if anyone else is heading out there,
Technically the tunnels and Couloir Sampson are closed. However, it appears that local climbers (guides?) were hired to do some of the work.
Therefore they're pretty sympathetic to climbers and let a whole load of people through, some to the duc, others to hulk. One group was even allowed through the first tunnel.
Also its possible to get out if you need to, the steps up to the tunnels currently aren't in-situ but that doesn't pose much of a problem.