Phase Two of RN-22 Roadworks Starts Near Pas de la Casa

The second phase of major roadworks on the RN-22, the key route linking France to Pas de la Casa, began today between Croisade (RN-22/RN-320 junction) and the Envalira roundabout at the Pas de la Casa entrance.

Managed by France's Direcció Interdepartamental de Carreteres del Sud-oest (Dirso), the works focus on stabilising the embankment and upgrading drainage systems in this stretch. This phase runs until 10 July, forming part of a broader project expected to last five or six years overall.

During weekdays, including nights, traffic will operate under alternating one-way control using adaptive "smart" traffic lights that adjust to real-time flow, aiming to ease congestion near the border. Manual oversight may supplement the system if needed. Brief road closures could occur for machinery movements or material deliveries.

Weekends from Friday evening to Monday morning, and public holidays, will see two-way traffic resume with lanes narrowed to about 3.2 metres wide. A 30 km/h speed limit applies across the entire construction zone at all times, including nights and weekends. Total closures are scheduled nightly from 21:00 to 06:00 between 6 and 10 July for resurfacing.

Drivers must heed signage and exercise caution to protect themselves and site workers, Dirso emphasised. Updates will appear on information panels.

These improvements build on the first phase, conducted from August to November last year, which enhanced stormwater collection with wider, less intrusive drainage channels. Winter works then paused for an avalanche gallery on the RN-320 near Hospitalet, closing the section from the Port de Pimorent tunnel to the southern RN-320 junction.

The project stems from a 20 April 2022 agreement between Andorra and France to boost climate resilience on the RN-20, RN-320 and RN-22 amid rising freeze-thaw cycles that trigger landslides and rockfalls. Andorra is contributing up to 4.8 million euros—40% of the 12 million euro maximum cost—with all new infrastructure remaining French-owned. The deal followed a February 2022 announcement by Andorran head of government Xavier Espot and then-French prime minister Jean Castex.

Local concerns persist in Pas de la Casa, a high-traffic area especially in summer, following client losses from a January landslide at Mérens on the RN-20, which closed until early March. Authorities hope measures will prevent repeats of first-phase disruptions.