an emergency track soon to be put in place in Oisans, the hamlet of La Bérarde still isolated

After the torrential flood of this Friday, June 21, the Vénéon transformed into a gigantic muddy current, sweeping away a bridge and several pieces of road over 27 kilometers in its path. France 3 Alpes takes stock of the state of the roads and the reopening deadlines.

After the torrential flood which affected Oisans during the night of Thursday to Friday June 21, Jean-Pierre Barbier, president of the Department of Isère, took stock of the situation this Monday June 24 on departmental road 530, where the damage is numerous.

The Vénéon, a small torrent of the Oisans, has burst its banks and carried away everything in its path. The Minister of Ecological Transition Christophe Béchu speaks of 200,000 m³ of water that flowed down into the valley. Over nearly 27 kilometers, from Ougiers to La Bérarde, department agents counted no fewer than eight road cuts, isolating the towns of Vénosc, Saint-Christophe-en-Oisans and the small hamlet of La Bérarde from the world.

This Monday, the president of the Department announced that an emergency route would be opened from this Tuesday evening, June 25.

“We have already re-established an emergency track to reach Vénosc. Tomorrow evening, these tracks will be improved to reach Vénosc and Saint-Christophe-en-Oisans. These are emergency tracks which are subject to prefectural and municipal decrees , they are not open to traffic”specified Jean-Pierre Barbier.

This track will only be passable by 4X4 and will provide access to the town of Saint-Christophe-en-Oisans. It will be accessible only to local residents, emergency vehicles and public service vehicles which will open up the village.

For access to the village of La Bérarde, no deadline could be given this Monday morning. The bridge which provides the connection to this small hamlet is, for the moment, still covered with blocks and various materials.

State services specify that such an event has not occurred for around a hundred years in the Oisans valley. In three days, more than a hundred people were evacuated by helicopter and sheltered.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The Isère prefecture announces that a psychological unit has been set up and will be triggered for anyone who requests it.

Furthermore, due to the economic difficulties encountered by tourism stakeholders, the prefect of Isère Louis Laugier announces that a meeting with the stakeholders concerned will be organized at the end of the week.