Hauliers Criticize St. Bernard Tunnel
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SINFRE criticism of the state of the roads on both the Swiss and Italian sides of the Great St. Bernard road tunnel is being made by the International Road Transport Union, which also deplores the excessive tolls levied on hauliers using the tunnel. In IRU's view the first section of The road on the Swiss side is totally inadeq.ette for any sizeable volume of goods vehicle traffic. On the Italian side there are a few kilometres of semimotorway, but then the road narrows and begins to wind.
A further allegation of the union is that the limitations on the weights of lorries passing through the tunnel are imposed with the ,deliberate object of favouring the railways. Single lorries must not exceed 13 tons; articulated units, 18 tons; and lorries with two-aXled trailers. 21 tons. There is also a prohibition on heavy goods vehicles travelling at night, although the road is virtually free at that period.
Iii the autumn of 1965 the Mont Blanc road tunnel between France and Italy is scheduled to open, and IRU is already taking steps to ensure that hauliers are offered better facilities than in the case of the St. Bernard tunnel. It is urging the French and Italian road haulage associations to make representations to their governments regarding the need for improved access roads and the question of equitable toll rates for commercial vehicles.