France plans another closure of the RN20 road to Andorra to reduce rockfall risk
Work could begin in autumn 2027, as mayors in Ariège call for road improvements and a reliable rail service
The RN20, one of the main access roads to Andorra from France, faces another closure to carry out safety work on the mountainside affected by the major rockfall in early 2026.
According to La Dépêche du Midi, the Ariège prefecture says work could begin in autumn 2027, although the timetable and scope will depend on the findings of an ongoing study.
The announcement comes six months after the road reopened on 9 March, following a five-week closure. The disruption cut off the road connection between Mérens-les-Vals and L’Hospitalet-près-l’Andorre and the rest of the department, hitting local businesses particularly hard.
“Another closure of the RN20 is to be expected,” the prefecture warns. It will convene a committee to draw up an action plan once the study’s findings are available. The duration of the next closure has yet to be announced.
A study to secure unstable rock masses
The study, overseen by France’s South-West Interdepartmental Roads Directorate, is expected to be completed this September.
Its purpose is to determine how to address rock masses that could break away from the cliff and ensure the road’s long-term safety.
Monitoring devices installed on the mountainside have detected no further movement in the six months since the road reopened. Nevertheless, the authorities remain cautious and are preparing work to reduce the risk of future rockfalls.
Jean-Pierre Sicre, mayor of Mérens-les-Vals, has praised the speed of the initial response, which allowed the road to reopen almost two months ahead of the original schedule. State services now want to maintain that capacity for action during the next phase of work.
Financial losses, but no businesses forced to close
The closure came at a considerable cost to local businesses. Sicre estimated losses at €160,000, excluding the impact on the Eau Neuve water plant, a significant local employer.
Despite the difficulties, the mayor says no business in the municipality has been forced to close as a result of the disruption. In L’Hospitalet-près-l’Andorre, mayor Arnaud Diaz also believes activity has returned to normal.
Sicre maintains, however, that the losses remain an unresolved issue. Among the hardest-hit businesses was a restaurant whose manager said he had served just three diners during one week of the road closure.
State services point to the provision of short-time working support for businesses that requested it, alongside extended payment deadlines for tax and social security debts. Meetings were also held with business organisations and local authorities to identify the needs of affected companies.
Rail services crucial during future closures
The mayors are calling for a response that goes beyond repairing the road and includes sustained investment in transport infrastructure in Upper Ariège.
One of their main concerns is the railway. Alongside the RN20 closure, rail services were suspended for almost four months because of ground subsidence, further complicating travel in the area.
The prefecture says it will pay particular attention to transport arrangements for residents and workers during the forthcoming work. It acknowledges that the disruption earlier this year demonstrated the need for a regular, reliable rail service while the road is closed.