Project details, aim, purpose
The Gotthard road tunnel has been in operation since 1980 as a national highway link between Göschenen in the canton of Uri and Airolo in the canton of Ticino. Extensive repairs to the first tunnel tube are required in order to ensure its functionality and safety. This will involve closing the tube to traffic. On 27 June 2012, the Federal Council decided that a second tunnel tube should be constructed and the existing tube refurbished, with no increase in capacity. Swiss voters approved this project by 57% in a vote held on 28 February 2016, effectively issuing a mandate to construct a second tube at the Gottard tunnel to the federal office responsible, the Federal Roads Office FEDRO.
Explanatory video: the most important information in brief
Location and routing
The second tube will connect Göschenen in the canton of Uri with Airolo in the canton of Ticino, over a distance of 16.9 kilometres. It will be sited to the east of the first tube and of the existing service and infrastructure tunnel (SIT), running largely parallel to these two tunnels. The entire Gotthard road tunnel system will consist of two single-track, parallel tunnel tubes with a central service and infrastructure tunnel. Each tube will have one carriageway and one emergency lane.
This both increases safety and provides an alternative lane in the event of an accident, breakdown or maintenance work in the tube. Traffic on this principal north-south link can thus continue to flow while the first tube is being renovated without having to be rerouted via the Gotthard Pass road; nor does the pass need to be kept open during winter. Furthermore, there is no need for additional loading terminals for heavy goods vehicles, i.e. capacity on the Swiss and trans-European road network is maintained.
Project status
General construction start in Göschenen and Airolo
- Start of construction of the service and infrastructure tunnel (SISto)
- Start of construction of the southern access tunnel
- Start of construction of the northern access tunnel
- Start of construction of the main tunnel
- Starrt of tunnelling work with the tunnel boring machines for the northern and southern access tunnels
- Tunnel boring machine begins boring main tunnel from north
- Tunnel boring machine begins boring main tunnel from south
Breakthrough in main tunnel
Start installation operating and safety equipment
- System tests and commissioning of entire system
- Opening second tube Gotthard road tunnel
- Start renovation first tube Gotthard road tunnel
End renovation first tube Gotthard road tunnel
Costs
CHF 2.14 billion has been earmarked for the construction of the second Gotthard tunnel tube (estimate +/-15% incl. VAT). Around CHF 90 million is being contributed by other parties, e.g. the Canton of Ticino.