by Rick Marchant Closed for over 3 years the Mont Blanc tunnel has finally, officially opened the road once again to heavy goods vehicles. Though as yet no heavy goods vehicles have been seen in the Chamonix Valley. Whatever your views on the rights or wrongs of road transport in Europe and in particular across the Alps, it´s an event that is greeted with sadness here in Chamonix. A disappointing return to the excessive air and noise pollution, resulting from up to 5000 trucks a day grinding their way up and down the approach road to the tunnel. A return to the memories of looking down from the Aiguille du Midi onto the smog haze that used to engulf the lower valley. It´s rather ironic that Alpine valleys which used to attract tourists for the pure quality of the mountain air, should now be registering pollution levels similar to those in inner cities.
![[VIDEO] Jan Hojer bouldert in Südafrika](https://www.climbing.de/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/vimeo_47555959-150x150.jpg)
