At the Heart of Current Events: Avalanche Risk and Mountain Road Safety

At the beginning of February, heavy snowfall and maximum avalanche risk across the French Alpine massifs have once again highlighted the critical importance of securing mountain roads for tourist regions. Over the past ten days, several access routes to Alpine and Pyrenean resorts (Vaujany, La Mongie, etc.) have been closed or significantly restricted, with roads cut off by avalanches or placed under reinforced monitoring.

In this context of increased pressure on mountain infrastructure, MND, the world’s leading provider of avalanche risk prevention and control solutions, will participate in the 17th World Winter Service and Road Resilience Congress, taking place from March 10–13, 2026, at Savoiexpo Exhibition Centre in Chambéry (France).

MND, Global Leader and Key Player in Winter Road Safety

The Savoy-based industrial group MND, through its MND SAFETY division, has been designing and deploying innovative preventive avalanche control systems worldwide for more than 37 years. These systems secure roads, railways, industrial sites, ski resorts, and exposed villages.

With more than 3,000 systems installed in 22 countries, Gazex™, DaisyBell™, and O’BellX™ technologies help keep strategic routes open 24/7, in all weather conditions, while significantly reducing field teams’ exposure to hazardous areas.

In Savoie, Autoroutes et Tunnel du Mont Blanc (ATMB) secures the French access road to the Mont Blanc Tunnel in the Chamonix Valley using MND SAFETY DaisyBell™ and O’BellX™ systems. Similarly, access roads to the villages of Bonneval-sur-Arc and Bessans are protected by comparable installations.

In the Alpes-Maritimes region, several access roads to Isola 2000 resort are equipped with fixed MND avalanche control solutions. Mountain roads managed by the South-West Interdepartmental Road Directorate (DIRSO), particularly toward Pas de la Casa (Andorra), are also protected by Gazex™ and O’BellX™ systems.

Expertise Serving Winter Service and Infrastructure Resilience

Winter service and road resilience are at the core of the 17th World Congress organized by PIARC under the theme: “Ensuring Road Excellence in All Seasons.”

By participating in this event, MND SAFETY aims to share its operational feedback from critical road sites, including mining access roads, highly frequented Alpine valleys, and major transport corridors exposed to heavy traffic loads and extreme climatic conditions.

Throughout the four-day Congress, MND SAFETY teams will welcome decision-makers, technical experts, road network managers, operational services, and engineering consultancies to present the full range of avalanche risk prevention solutions dedicated to transport infrastructure.

Visitors will be able to discover the latest developments of the Safety-cs control software, fixed Gazex™ systems, as well as removable (O’BellX™) and mobile (DaisyBell™) solutions, particularly suited for protected areas, natural reserves, and environmentally sensitive zones.

MND SAFETY will also contribute to technical discussions and key sessions addressing network resilience and operational decarbonization.

Explosive-Free, Safe, and Low-Environmental-Impact Solutions

MND SAFETY systems operate through the remote ignition of gas mixtures, without explosives. This approach enhances operational safety and simplifies regulatory procedures.

Designed and manufactured in France, in Savoie, these solutions reflect a strong commitment to performance, reliability, and reduced environmental footprint, particularly through low-visual-impact removable systems such as O’BellX™.

For more information about the World Winter Service and Road Resilience Congress:
https://www.piarc-chambery2026.com/fr