Envalira Tunnel

The Envalira Tunnel (Catalan: Túnel d'Envalira) is a tunnel in Andorra that runs between Pas de la Casa near the Andorra-France border and Grau Roig (Ski resort). It enables its users to avoid the Envalira Pass. It is amongst the highest road tunnels in Europe.

Envalira Tunnel
Envalira Tunnel
Location in the eastern Pyrenees of Europe
Overview
LocationEurope: eastern Pyrenees
Coordinates42.540056°N 1.719606°E / 42.540056; 1.719606
StatusOpen 24 hrs/day
StartPas de la Casa, Encamp, Andorra
EndGrau Roig, Encamp, Andorra
Operation
Work begunAugust 1999
Constructed1999–2002
Opened2002
OperatorGlobalvia
TrafficAutomotive
CharacterPassenger & freight
Toll€6.40 (one-way), 2013
passenger vehicle
Technical
Length2.050 km (1.274 mi)
No. of lanes2
Operating speed40–70 km/h (25–43 mph)[1]
Highest elevation2,052 m (6,732 ft)
Grau Roig
Lowest elevation2,043 m (6,703 ft)
Pas de la Casa

Although situated within the borders of Andorra, the entrance at Pas de la Casa can only be reached via a bridge that is situated in France. The Andorra/France border post is therefore situated a short distance within France at the start of the access bridge. On the French side it is connected to the RN22 and on the Andorran side to the CGII.[2]

Plans for a tunnel were developed in Andorra during the late 1950s. In 1963, the Envalira Tunnel design tender was awarded to French engineers Semet and Phillip Studies, and subsequent negotiations were conducted for years and the access roads were improved. On June 1, 1999, Spanish companies FCC and NECSO (today ACCIONA) began construction work on the Grau Roig side of the massif; and on August 2, 1999, work began on the Pas de la Casa side.

Operator & concession

The Tunnel is operated by Globalvia (a joint venture between Spanish companies Caja Madrid and FCC) as a toll tunnel. The concession period is for 50 years.[3] The construction cost was 11 Bn Pesetas (approx. 80 Million Euros).[4]

References
  1. "Safety - Tunel Envalira". tuneldenvalira.com. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  2. "Home - Tunel Envalira". tuneldenvalira.com. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  3. "Globalvia - Concesiones". globalvia.com. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  4. (in Spanish)http://elpais.com/diario/1999/09/03/catalunya/936320838_850215.html
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