Meribel is to have a major new lift in operation in its Chaudanne sector for the coming winter.
The new high-speed detachable six-seater Legends chairlift, scheduled to start operations in December, will replace both the former Plan de l'Homme chairlift and the Roc de Fir lift.
Boasting both pull-down weather protection covers and heated seats, the new chairlift will increase capacity on the route from 2,800 to 3,600 people an hour, and reach the top in only four minutes, and 40 seconds.
The Plan de l'Homme chairlift is not leaving the ski area completely however, just moving location as it is to replace the long Cherferie drag lift, and will be renamed the Cherferie chair, although it will take a slightly different and longer route.
In other news for the new season from the area two new ski runs are being created. A new red run, named Gypaete, is being created starting just below the top of Choucas and connecting to the Roc de Fer blue piste. A second, Daguet, will run from the Face black run to connect with the Raffort piste.
It seems unlikely that, as with the many other new pistes created in the 3 Valleys over the last 40 years, there'll be any changes to the 600km total runs claimed by the region with the addition of these extra runs.
There are also the inevitable snowmaking improvements and cabins on the Mont Vallon gondola are being upgraded to nice new eight-seaters.