It's a project that has been under discussion for more than thirty years, but it looks like the proposed Bozel to Courchevel 1550 gondola is closer to becoming a reality.
The local communes have joined the Savoie department to create a licensing body and a call for tenders was launched to find an operator to take on the responsibility for building and operating the lift.
Currently, only one candidate has come forward - the Société des Trois Vallées. S3V already manages the Courchevel ski area.
For the past few months, discussions have been under way with S3V. Negotiations cover various aspects…including the investment budget, which has been confirmed at €28 million.
The new lift is planned to have 42 ten-seater cabins with a capacity of 1500 people per hour.
A key reason for building the lift is to take vehicles off the road. It's estimated that 20,000 cars drive up to Courchevel every day in the winter months.
Locals are not getting carried away. The Funiflaine project, designed to connect Magland in the valley to the Flaine and Grand Massif ski area was abandoned as costs spiralled.
Other valley to mountain projects that are under discussion include Saint-Gervais/Le Fayet which has a €14 million budget and could start as early as 2023.
The Bourg d'Oisans/Alpe d'Huez project is also underway with a budget of €40 million. It's hoped this will come into operatation for the 2024/25 winter season.
Other proposals in the pipeline include Aime/La Plagne, Bourg-Saint-Maurice/La Rosière, and Chamrousse Le Recoin/Roche Béranger.