The Lyon-Turin rail link, a proposed 57-kilometer tunnel beneath the Alps, is meant primarily to carry freight and improve connectivity between France and Italy. The project has been controversial from the start, with ongoing construction challenges adding to the debate. Currently, a tunnel boring machine working 600 meters underground in the Savoie region is facing significant water inflow, causing delays in the excavation of the base tunnel in the Maurienne valley. While opponents claim only 20% of the base tunnel has been completed, TELT, the organization managing the project, says 30% of the 157 kilometers of tunnels and galleries have been finished. The first tunnel boring machine is now entering a particularly complex geological area, but TELT president Daniel Bursaux says technical solutions are being used to overcome these challenges. The plan is to use seven tunnel boring machines in total to complete the project by the end of 2033. Project supporters, who met in a full assembly in Lyon on September 16, remain committed to the 2033 opening date, despite the delays. Carine Gros, from the opposition group Vivre et Agir en Maurienne, highlights the scale of the project, which involves 240 kilometers of construction from Lyon to Turin. She notes that the project includes seven tunnels and new access tracks, and raises concerns about environmental and logistical challenges, such as water and dust, as well as the movement of materials to the Savoyard hinterland and up to Lyon. Financing the project remains a major challenge. The tunnel itself is budgeted at over 11 billion euros, but an additional 17 billion euros is still needed for the access routes on the French side. Josiane Beaud, president of the Intergovernmental Commission for Lyon-Turin, says there is strong political support from the French government and that Europe backs the project. The tunnel was declared a public utility in 2013, and while some time was lost before the ministerial decision in 2024, a working group with European partners is now trying to speed up the construction of access routes and secure the necessary funding. With the upcoming presidential election in France, the project has become more politically charged. However, promoters insist that the political climate should not derail the goal of opening the tunnel by 2033. They argue that the project is critical for regional connectivity and economic development, and they remain focused on completing it on schedule despite the ongoing challenges.