History Simplon Pass

view of hospice du simplon owned congregation of canons regular @ grand-saint-bernard

there had been locally used passage through mountains here several centuries, pass acquired international significance during napoleonic occupation. between 1801 , 1805 simplon road constructed engineer nicolas céard @ direction of emperor in order transport artillery pieces through pass between rhône valley , italy. since then, pass has been usable post carriages, replaced in twentieth century post buses.

the road periodically improved , in 1950 cantonal authorities created plan whereby pass kept open through year, , not closed traffic between october , late april alpine passes @ altitude. improvements included several lengthy avalanche shelters along more exposed stretches of road , expansion of road tunnels accommodate full size tourist coaches taller post buses used local passengers. in october 1970, party of journalists invited inspect improvements , announced necessary improvements had been implemented on 37 km (23 mi) of 42.5 km (26.4 mi) between brig in valais , italian frontier @ gondo, 110 of 180 million swiss francs budgeted project had been spent , that, while further 5 years needed complete projected improvements, simplon pass used safely through year.

the former simplon département (the swiss canton valais) named after pass.