7 Million Euros To Get The Morzine Region Back On Its Feet
The Portes Du Soleil counts the cost of this months flooding
As wet weather returns to the Portes Du Soleil this week, we’re reminded of the heavy rain and melting snow that caused extensive damage across the region at the beginning of May.
It’s been announced that more than 7 million euros is being put aside to repair roads, which in some places remain impassable.
Assessments are continuing to work out if the amount of rainfall we saw at the start of the month was the most we’ve seen in 100 years. The flooding wreaked havoc across the region, damaging homes, businesses, roads and pathways.
Damage can still be seen across Morzine, with stretches of roads remaining closed, pathways destroyed and sandbags still lining the outsides of peoples homes. The water levels at Lac Montriond were dangerously high and it was feared the dam there would burst. The school in Saint Jean d’Aulps lost a large percentage of its land to the river and continues to count the cost of the damage.
There are traffic lights in place along parts of the main road between Morzine and Thonon, which were completely washed away by powerful currents and high water levels. Public footways were also permanently damaged meaning travelling between Saint Jean d'Aulps and Morzine on foot or by mountain bike is now virtually impossible.
There are also fears for sections of roads extremely popular with road bikers. We’re told the Joux-plane pass, the mountain road which links Morzine and Samoens, may not reopen in time for summer. It’s a popular route for cyclists, often featured in the Tour De France, but it’s thought that repair work along this road could take several months to complete.
It’s not just the road infrastructure around the Portes Du Soleil paying the price for the adverse weather – money has also been put aside to help farmers affected by flooding. Assessments looking at the damage caused by the water will determine which projects will be given financial he to get back up on their feet.
An emergency fund to help victims has already been announced but it’s hoped that this extra money will go that little bit further for people who are struggling to get on with life after the floods.
