Saint-André (France) (AFP)

A symbolic milestone was reached on Monday for the contested Lyon-Turin rail link with the completion of the first nine kilometers of its base tunnel under the Alps, AFP reported.

If the entire line will extend for 270 kilometers, the cross-border section of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne (Savoie) in Susa (Piedmont) represents the central link. Its main work is the 57.5 km long Mont-Cenis base tunnel, 70% of which is in France.

Monday, in the presence of many officials, the tunneler Federica has symbolically pierced the last piece of rock (in fact and for security reasons already shot Thursday) during a ceremony sound and lights. At 11.35 am, in a loud crash and a cloud of dust, the tunneling cutter's head appeared to applause.

According to tradition, the workers who had been working there for three years emerged one by one from the machine of 1.6 meters in diameter, by a hatch, brandishing the French and Italian flags.

The Federica TBM, out of breath, will now be dismantled and replaced by a new machine.

Secretary of State for Transport Jean-Baptiste Djebbari "reaffirmed the major interest and determination of France" to carry out this project.

"Switzerland is often cited as an example with its modal shift (of the road on the rail) of 70%. We can not be satisfied with our 8%" when "more than 3 million trucks" cross the Alps between Italy and France, said Mr Djebbari.

Asked by the press about the absence of his Italian counterpart Paola De Micheli, Mr. Djebbari recalled the "meeting last Friday on the occasion of the Council of Ministers of Transport in Brussels.It reaffirmed that the work had to engage as soon as possible, "he said, referring to the hostility of the 5-star government party to this project.

As for the financing of this project to 18 billion euros, the French Minister recalled that "the European Commission announced want to increase its funding rate to 50 or 55% (against 40% currently)".

Certainly, he added, "the new commission is being heard but it is a commitment that was recalled in the introductory speech of the President of the European Commission".

"The next step is to continue digging the tunnel, now that the operation is definitely launched," said Hubert du Mesnil, president of the French-Italian owner TELT.

According to a BVA survey for TELT, conducted in France and Italy, the project "enjoys massive support" in the populations, more in France (93%) than in Italy (86%). In the Susa Valley, the heart of the challenge to the project (the "No TAV"), supporters are slightly in the majority (54%)

© 2019 AFP