RN20 Rockslide Repairs Near Merens Not Expected Before 2027

Permanent consolidation works on the RN20 section damaged by a January rockslide are not expected before 2027, Andorra's Foreign Affairs Minister Imma Tor has stated.

Tor provided the update in comments to the Andorran News Agency following a meeting in Toulouse with Occitanie Prefect Pierre-André Durand. The discussions formed part of preparations for the 10th Andorra-Occitanie Cross-Border Dialogue.

The planned works will focus on the stretch just before Merens, identified as particularly vulnerable after the slide forced a temporary road closure between Andorra and Haute-Ariège. One source specified the closure lasted from 31 January to 9 March, isolating Pas de la Casa for several weeks.

French authorities await technical reports expected by summer, which will define both the timeline and precise measures required. Tor noted that until those details emerge, no firm commitments can be made.

Andorran officials stressed the need to avoid full road shutdowns during any future interventions. Both sides agreed to explore alternative routes and schedule major activity outside peak tourist seasons to limit disruptions to traffic flow.

In the meantime, French teams continue operating an interim safety setup installed post-slide, featuring an alert system and preventive traffic lights. Tor reported that the ground has shown no movement since initial stabilisation efforts, so the measures have not yet been triggered. "This system is working well, even though it is temporary," she said.

The Toulouse talks also covered broader cross-border issues, including tobacco smuggling efforts and the Foix-Ax-les-Thermes rail line, halted by February storms and slated to reopen on 30 June.