Switzerland’s summer getaway entered full swing this weekend—literally stopping traffic. On Saturday and Sunday, tailbacks at the north portal of the Gotthard Road Tunnel reached 20 kilometres, translating into waits of more than three hours for drivers heading towards Ticino and Italy. By Monday morning, jams had shortened to 14 kilometres but remained well above seasonal norms, according to the Touring Club Switzerland (TCS). The Gotthard Tunnel is the country’s principal north-south artery and a vital trade route for Central Europe. Heavy holiday traffic coincided with lane closures linked to refurbishment work inside the 17-kilometre tube, further reducing capacity. Police urged motorists to avoid exiting vehicles on the motorway after social-media images showed travellers picnicking on the hard shoulder—an offence that can attract on-the-spot fines. Authorities recommended three alternatives: the A13 over the San Bernardino, the Simplon Pass via the A9, and the Great St Bernard route into Italy. Yet even these detours saw above-average volume as drivers sought to bypass the bottleneck. Residents of Uri held a small demonstration in Amsteg, protesting the influx of cars diverting through mountain villages and demanding temporary transit bans during peak weekends. For logistics and mobility managers, the congestion is more than a tourist inconvenience. Long haul-truck operators reported arrival delays of up to six hours on contracts to Milan and Bologna, raising just-in-time delivery concerns. Several Swiss manufacturing firms pre-emptively shifted export loads onto rail through the Gotthard Base Tunnel as a contingency—an option available only to companies that booked slots weeks in advance. Traffic analysts warn that similar gridlock is likely on 25–27 July and the first weekend of August, when schools in Zurich and Baden-Württemberg start holidays. Companies with cross-alpine supply chains should consider night-time departures, rail freight conversion, or staging inventory south of the Alps to mitigate risk.
Source: IamExpat Switzerland
