The Mont Blanc Tunnel linking France and Italy opens.

The Mont Blanc Tunnel is a major highway tunnel in Europe that connects Chamonix, France, with Courmayeur, Italy, passing under the Mont Blanc mountain in the Alps.

Length: The tunnel is approximately 11.6 kilometers (7.2 miles) long.
Construction: It was constructed between 1957 and 1965 and officially opened on July 19, 1965.
Purpose: The tunnel serves as a crucial link for transportation between France and Italy, facilitating the movement of goods and passengers.
Traffic: It is used by a significant amount of road traffic, including cars, trucks, and buses.
Safety and Upgrades: Following a tragic fire in 1999 that resulted in the loss of 39 lives, the tunnel underwent extensive safety upgrades and reopened in 2002 with improved safety measures.
Economic Impact: The tunnel plays an important role in the regional economies by providing a direct route through the Alps, reducing travel time and costs associated with transportation.

The Mont Blanc Tunnel remains one of the major trans-Alpine road tunnels in Europe, contributing significantly to the connectivity between the two countries it links.