Andorra Ends Pas de la Casa Aid as RN20 Reopens Monday After Landslide

Andorra's emergency support for Pas de la Casa businesses following the RN20 landslide will end on Monday, when the road fully reopens at 6am in both directions.

Spokesman Minister Guillem Casal said the programme, tied directly to the closure, expires with the reopening. He dismissed merchants' Tuesday request to extend it until month's end, highlighting government efforts to support local commerce after an initial three-month closure shortened to five weeks. Fuel vouchers totalling 120,000 euros went to 3,981 vehicles from Occitania by Thursday, while the free shuttle from L'Hospitalet saw daily passengers jump from five to an average 200, peaking at 300 on weekends. These steps reduced border vehicle entries from a 75% drop to 45-47% on favourable weekends. Casal noted soft loans for liquidity—requiring proof of closure losses—and CASS contribution subsidies for February, needing revenue decline evidence, will activate upon reopening. The timing supports winter's close and Easter commerce, with Andorra Turisme launching awareness campaigns.

Ariège Prefecture chief Hervé Brabant confirmed the schedule Friday during a virtual meeting of Andorra's General Council Friendship Group with the French Senate, prompted by economic impacts on Pas de la Casa and the country. Andorran Ambassador to France Esther Rabassa and councillors Berna Coma, Núria Segués, Meritxell Alcobé, Laia Moliné, Marc Magallon, Pere Marsenyach and Carles Naudi attended, alongside French Senators Jean-Jacques Michau, Pierre-Antoine Levi, Jean Sol, Emilienne Poumirol, Brigitte Micoleau and Sylvie Alliey, plus Audrey Abadie-Amiel, president of the French National Assembly's Andorra group. Brabant outlined safety upgrades: mountain movement sensors and rupture wires activating an automatic red flashing light to stop traffic, a no-stopping rule over 500 metres policed by gendarmerie, and weekend tests. He stressed current risk matches pre-landslide levels but benefits from enhanced monitoring, with a risk map underway for mid-term prevention. Discussions also covered a separate Foix rail landslide, where Andorrans urged better train frequencies and information.

That afternoon, Brabant hosted a site visit with Territory and Urban Planning Minister Raul Ferré, Encamp senior consul Laura Mas, French Ambassador to Andorra Nicolas Eybalin, minister for parliamentary relations Laurent Panifous and Ariège officials. Direction interdépartementale des routes director Hubert Ferry-Wilczek detailed emergency works costing around one million euros after a 200 cubic metre (over 300-tonne) rockfall on 30-31 January between L'Hospitalet and Ax-les-Thermes. Road repairs took one week; cliff stabilisation via deep anchors installed by rope teams faced winter weather delays. A 500 cubic metre rock mass requires three-month studies to assess stabilisation or controlled falls, with further three-month reinforcements planned for low season post-summer, potentially involving closures in the next two years. Weekend tests will verify the system before Monday.

Ferré praised France's rapid execution of complex works, calling the RN20 vital for Pas de la Casa and Andorra. Mas thanked the efforts, noting businesses' relief and expectations of normality. Brabant committed to regular updates and coordination, including rail alternatives.