(AGI) Courmayeur, July 16 - Celebrations took place onThursday in Courmayeur in the Valle d'Aosta region tocommemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the MonteBianco Tunnel. "Tunnels, like bridges, contribute to do awaywith the hurdles which inhibit encounters, mutual knowledge,and exchanges between cultures as well as collaborations amongpeoples," said Ricardo Sessa, president of the Societa Italianaper il Traforo del Monte Bianco. He added, "The Monte BiancoTunnel was built at a time when countries seemed to be moreconcerned about being the first to reach outer space. It isstill an example today of the capability and will of men toovercome all the hurdles on the way to a peaceful coexistence."Mario Battaglia, the CEO of the Societa Italiana per il Traforodel Monte Bianco, said, "Fifty years after its opening to roadtraffic, the Monte Bianco Tunnel, although keeping with itsoriginal structural characteristics, has totally changed interms of compliance with safety regulations." About 1,800,000vehicles pass through every year along the 11.6 kilometres ofthe tunnel. There are 37 safe shelters connected to a rescuetunnel, and 156 cameras are placed every 100 metres inside thetunnel, which complement the 33 cameras placed outside thetunnel. Moreover, there are two barriers at the entrance of thetunnel which inhibit access in case of accidents, and 36semi-barriers every 600 metres which can block vehicles insidethe tunnel. "The opening of the tunnel took place 50 years agoand was a milestone in our history," said the governor of theValle d'Aosta regional administration, Augusto Rollandin. "Itwas an important moment not only because of the infrastructuralquality and size of the tunnel, but also because it representeda powerful growth in Italian-French bilateral relations and acollaboration at the European Community level." Rollandin addedthat the European Community was created 7 years earlier withthe Treaties of Rome. It had among its goals the free movementof goods, services, workers, and capital, the promotion ofjoint development policies and the abolition of cartels. .