The RN2, nicknamed the Lava Route, runs across the Grand Brûlé on the east coast of La Réunion, an island in the Indian Ocean known for frequent volcanic activity from the Piton de la Fournaise. This road has been repeatedly damaged, buried, and rebuilt over cooled lava flows since 1977. It is crucial for connecting the isolated Sud Sauvage region of the island and is the only viable route to de-isolate the area when needed. In March 2026, a new eruption covered approximately 430 meters of the RN2 with lava flows reaching depths of 5 to 10 meters at the main branches. This is not the first time the road has been affected by eruptions, with major events recorded in 1977, 1986, 2002, and 2007. The 2007 eruption, often called the century eruption, buried parts of the road under lava more than 60 meters thick and extended the Grand Brûlé area, altering the coastline near the Indian Ocean. Rebuilding the RN2 on freshly cooled lava is a complex and time-sensitive task. After an eruption ends and the lava surface hardens, construction machinery is used to break the basalt crust and level the ground. A temporary gravel road is then opened to allow quick access to the Sud Sauvage region. The final asphalt is laid only after the volcanic ground has fully stabilized thermally. Eric Boiteux, head of road operations at the Réunion Region, explained that the RN2 can disappear from maps overnight and sometimes needs to be rebuilt on lava flows that are still cooling. After the 2007 eruption, it took seven months of planning and work to fully reopen the road. Information panels along the route mark the Lava Route, highlighting past eruptions and the history of the road's rebuilding. Each panel serves as a reminder of the region’s volcanic past and the ongoing effort to maintain the road. Despite numerous eruptions and disruptions, the RN2 has remained functional, following a familiar pattern: lava covers the road, the ground cools, machinery rebuilds it, and traffic resumes, often within weeks of the event. The road has become a symbol of the island’s resilience and adaptation to its volcanic environment, rather than a complete attempt to prevent eruptions from affecting the area.