France Reaffirms Funding for Key Road Upgrades to Andorra Despite Management Shift

The French government has reaffirmed its commitment to funding key road upgrades linking southern France to Andorra, even after transferring management of the RN-116—now RD66—to the Pyrénées-Orientales department. This addresses concerns raised by National Assembly deputy Sandrine Dogor-Such over the department's capacity to manage the route's challenging mountainous terrain, marked by extreme weather, geological risks, and potential funding shortfalls.

Paris cited the 2022 decentralisation law, endorsed by the department, which includes compensation tied to past state expenditures, staff transfers, and an annual allocation exceeding €5.3 million for maintenance. The government highlighted its continued role, noting €15 million of the €27 million earmarked in the 2023-2027 State-Region Occitanie plan for corridor improvements and safety enhancements, with specific benefits for Andorra access.

These efforts build on a 2022 Franco-Andorran agreement signed on 20 April, following an announcement on 5 February by Andorran head of government Xavier Espot and then-French Prime Minister Jean Castex. The pact allocates €5 million for safety works, mostly French-funded with €1 million from Andorra, to support commuter and tourist traffic amid rising climate threats like intensified freeze-thaw cycles and landslides. Andorra contributes 40% (€4.8 million) to up to €12 million in upgrades on the French-owned RN-20, RN-320, and RN-22.

Meanwhile, the second phase of RN-22 works linking France to Pas de la Casa began on a 500-metre stretch from the Croisade junction (RN-22/RN-320) to the Envalira roundabout. Managed by the South-West Interdepartmental Roads Directorate (Dirso), the project—spanning five to six years—focuses on embankment stabilisation, drainage renewal, and safety reinforcements until 10 July.

Weekday traffic, including nights, will operate under alternating one-way flow via adaptive "smart" traffic lights to reduce border congestion, with possible manual controls or brief closures for machinery and deliveries. Weekends from Friday evening to Monday morning, plus holidays, permit two-way travel on narrowed lanes (about 3.20 metres wide). Full closures from 21:00 to 06:00 are scheduled for 6-10 July for resurfacing, with a 30 km/h limit site-wide. Dirso urged compliance with signs and speeds for user and worker safety, with updates via on-site panels.

Pas de la Casa businesses remain concerned about disruptions, recalling client losses from last year's first phase (August to November), which upgraded stormwater collection with wider, less intrusive drainage channels. A November closure supported avalanche gallery construction on the RN-320 near L'Hospitalet, and an RN-20 landslide near Mérens shut the road from 31 January to 9 March. Operators hope impacts stay manageable during peak visitor season.