| New in .... |
2005/06 |
New Snow Cannon Reservoir in 1650 and a water processing plant near the Courchevel 1850 altiport.
A huge new snow cannon reservoir has been constructed above Courchevel 1650, (between the arrival points of the Signal and Roc Mugnier chairlifts at 2200m). There are now new Gazex avalanche control machines and upgraded snow cannons. Water will be piped up from the Rosiere lake at 1500m to the new Ariondaz reservoir at 2500m, where it will be retained and and subsequently piped to the Biolley lake at 2000m when required. The high altitude will allow the water to cool naturally, allowing better quality cultured snow to be produced, and by stocking such a large quantity of water, snow can be created whenever weather conditions allow. The reservoir will also increase the quantity of drinking water available to the resort.
Statistics on the reservoir:
Volume of the reservoir at l’Ariondaz: 125,500 m3.
Water supply: 900,000 m3/year
Length of the pipes involved: 8,000m.
Total cost of the investment: €7m
Much demolition and rebuilding has taken place in Courchevel 1850 over the summer. The petrol station, the Club Alpin building, the Auberge Ensoleillée and shops at the entrance to the resort have all been removed to make way for a new Residence and new upmarket hotel, le Padisha.
Méribel
One of Méribel’s major lifts, the upper section of the Tougnète
gondola, has been replaced over the summer months by a six seater high speed
chairlift, to be called the same name. The nearby, aging Tougnète draglift
has also been removed. A helicopter was required to bring many of the building
materials to the inaccessible site. The new chairlift will be equipped with
a pull down weather shield and a rolling loading mat. Capacity will be almost
doubled, giving a quicker trip to les Menuires/St Martin and means the trip
can be made without taking off skis/boards.
Facts and figures:
Capacity: 3300 people per hour
Speed: 5.5m/s
Length: 1549m
Cost: 6 million Euros.
Ongoing Piste Work across the Three Valleys Ski Area
Newly modeled areas of pistes all over the Three Valleys to improve snow retention
and to face away from direct sun light which will also improve drainage, prevent
erosion and to assist safety measures.
The bottom of the Creux has been widened and new safety barriers installed
on the Boulevard Gravelles returning from 1650 towards 1850. (pic right)
Re-shaping at the the top of Bouc Blanc and various new sign posts erected.
Les Menuires and St Martin de Belleville.
A new high speed chairlift, Roc des 3 Marches II, will replace the old slow
Allamands chair. This 6 seater chair with pull-down weather shield continues
from the arrival point of the Roc des 3 Marches gondola, and will create a
faster link between the Belleville and Méribel valleys. Non-skiers
will now be able to access the 3 Valleys on foot from Les Menuires.
Val Thorens
The old and cramped Cairn and Caron gondolas have been equipped with new cabins.
These seat eight people with skis on the inside. The carrying capacity has
been doubled and the stations will offer more services such as WCs, escalators,
waiting rooms and exhibitions etc. Transport for the disabled will be improved
by the addition of a lift, and one in ten of the new cabins are equipped to
take wheelchairs. A new blue run, lying under the gondola, will offer an easy
run to the lower part of the ski area. 20 million Euros have been spent on
the new lift, representing the largest single investment in ski lifts in France
in 2007.
A modern municipal technical centre
The municipal technical centre is located at the entrance to Courchevel 1850
and will play host to all the district’s technical services as of the
winter season 2007-2008. The bus parking platform has been re-designed to
cater for ten coaches.
Courchevel 1550 given a new look
The district authorities of Courchevel 1550 were keen to implement different
projects in order to modernise the village. These included the creation of
a mini-square at the heart of the resort, the introduction of pedestrian walkways
and the construction of bus shelters. New premises will also be constructed
to play host to various district services, such as a children’s nursery.
