Grands Montets Rebuild: Chamonix’s Iconic Lift Returns with State-of-the-Art 3S System

[Interview conducted and article written by guest author Iain Martin, host of The Ski Podcast, available on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.]

Following the devastating 2018 fire, the long-awaited rebuild of the Grands Montets lift system in Chamonix is gathering pace. The €155 million project will be one of the most significant lift investments ever in the Alps and will see a phased reopening from December 2026.

Speaking to The Ski Podcast, Benoît Borrell, Head of Projects for Compagnie du Mont Blanc, described the development as “a major project for the valley,” both in scale and ambition. “This is not simply a replacement,” he explained. “We are building a completely new system that will be more robust, more accessible, and better suited to the realities of high-altitude operation.”

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Iain Martin, host of The Ski Podcast, interviewed Borrell about the scale of the project. “We have about 40 companies working on it, from supplying materials, conducting studies, performing geotechnical investigations, permafrost work and preparing meals. There can be up to 250 people working on site at any one time,” Borrell said.

The long delay in reconstruction since the fire on 11 September 2018 was caused by a hold up in the payment of insurance, together with the complications of building within the Mont Blanc protected area. 

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The new lift will open in two parts, with the first stage a 10-person gondola from Argentière to Lognon that will open in December 2026. The highlight of the rebuild will be the second stage, due to open in December 2027. This will be a new state-of-the-art 3S gondola. Unlike conventional gondolas, which rely on a single haul rope, a 3S system uses two fixed track cables and a separate haul rope. This configuration reduces cabin sway, allowing the lift to operate safely in wind speeds that would typically shut down standard systems. “They are large cabins with 24 seats, meaning that everyone will be able to sit down,” said Borrell. “It means we can move from a cable car where everyone is standing, very tightly packed, to a journey where everyone can be seated and enjoy the views. It works for everyone, whether they are skiers, paragliders, mountaineers or pedestrians. It’s important that the site is open to everyone. This is about inclusivity as well as performance.”

Constructing infrastructure at altitudes as high as 3,300 meters (10,827 feet) is no small feat. Work is being carried out in an environment defined by extreme cold, high winds, and a short construction window. To overcome these challenges, engineers have installed a temporary construction cable system, enabling materials and equipment to be transported efficiently to the upper mountain.

Borrell admitted that they did look at having the staff stay on site. “Sleeping at 3,300 meters is complicated,” he said. “We considered moving them in and out by helicopter, but this has a carbon impact, plus there is a risk of someone getting injured and the helicopter being unable to recover them due to bad weather.So instead we built a temporary service cable car from the top of the Herse chairlift to transport staff up and down. It is a complete cable car system, which on its own cost several million euros and which will be completely dismantled once the 3S is in service.”

By winter 2027-28, skiers and mountaineers will once again be able to reach the Aiguille des Grands Montets — a milestone moment for a resort that has spent nearly a decade without one of its flagship lifts.

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Known for its steep, glaciated terrain and uncompromising character, the Grands Montets has long been a proving ground for advanced skiers and alpinists. It is also the starting point for the famous high mountain ski touring adventure, the Haute Route.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the new lift is the extended access the gondola will offer. The plan is to keep it operating from November to September, offering lift access to the high mountain for nine or 10 months of the year. “We’re really looking forward to reopening access to the summit,” said Borrell. “It’s an important moment for everyone who knows and loves this mountain.”