Dignitaries gathered to watch a symbolic first explosion to expand one of the major transit routes through the Alps.
The original 16.9km Gotthard road tunnel was opened in 1980 to connect the southern canton of Ticino with central Switzerland. It is one of Switzerland’s most important transport routes and among the longest road tunnels in the world.
A second tunnel, to be built parallel to the first, was approved by voters in 2016. The CHF2.14 billion ($2.3 billion) project, between Göschenen in the central Swiss canton of Uri and Airolo in Ticino, is expected to finish in 2029.
It was built to keep the crucial road route open while the original tunnel is closed to undergo a major structural facelift. That should be complete by 2032, at which time both tunnels will be operating side-by-side.
It is hoped the twin tunnels will ease the long traffic queues that regularly form at the tunnel during holidays.
The groundbreaking ceremony, attended by more than 150 guests, was postponed from the spring due to Covid-19 restrictions.
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Yes, the Gotthard tunnel needs to be safer. But how?
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Imagine a line of 8,500 vehicles driving along a single, four-metre-wide lane. On the other side of the road, going in the opposite direction, are another 8,500 vehicles. That is basically what happens every day in the Gotthard tunnel, the longest and most heavily used road tunnel in Switzerland. This is a highly risky situation,…
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Final results show a 57% majority of voters coming out in favour. A broad coalition of environmental groups and mainly leftwing parties challenged a decision by parliament last year for a second 17km tube through the Gotthard in the heart of Switzerland. Transport Minister Doris Leuthard said the broad support by voters from around the…
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Some 30,000 people on Saturday and another 50,000 on Sunday attended events at four locations: Erstfeld and Rynächt in canton Uri as well as Pollegio and Biasca in canton Ticino, at the other end of the 57 kilometre-long tunnel. It was the first time members of the public – who largely financed the project through…
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In announcing the decision on Wednesday, Transport Minister Doris Leuthard said the government had studied the issue thoroughly. “Every option has advantages and disadvantages and is technically possible … The second tunnel is the one that makes the most sense.” The plan envisages full closure of the current 30-year-old tunnel, one of Europe’s major north-south transit…
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.