"Tunnels, like bridges, contribute to do away with the hurdles which inhibit encounters, mutual knowledge, and exchanges between cultures as well as collaborations among peoples," said Ricardo Sessa, president of the Societa Italiana per il Traforo del Monte Bianco. He added, "The Monte Bianco Tunnel was built at a time when countries seemed to be more concerned about being the first to reach outer space. It is still an example today of the capability and will of men to overcome all the hurdles on the way to a peaceful coexistence." Mario Battaglia, the CEO of the Societa Italiana per il Traforo del Monte Bianco, said, "Fifty years after its opening to road traffic, the Monte Bianco Tunnel, although keeping with its original structural characteristics, has totally changed in terms of compliance with safety regulations." About 1,800,000 vehicles pass through every year along the 11.6 kilometres of the tunnel. There are 37 safe shelters connected to a rescue tunnel, and 156 cameras are placed every 100 metres inside the tunnel, which complement the 33 cameras placed outside the tunnel. Moreover, there are two barriers at the entrance of the tunnel which inhibit access in case of accidents, and 36 semi-barriers every 600 metres which can block vehicles inside the tunnel. "The opening of the tunnel took place 50 years ago and was a milestone in our history," said the governor of the Valle d'Aosta regional administration, Augusto Rollandin. "It was an important moment not only because of the infrastructural quality and size of the tunnel, but also because it represented a powerful growth in Italian-French bilateral relations and a collaboration at the European Community level." Rollandin added that the European Community was created 7 years earlier with the Treaties of Rome. It had among its goals the free movement of goods, services, workers, and capital, the promotion of joint development policies and the abolition of cartels. (AGI)