New road tunnels are planned for Switzerland

Two key tunnel projects are being planned in Switzerland at present, for projects at Jura and Gothard. The Swiss Federal Department for Infrastructure Uvek now intends to build a third tunnel at Jura Mountain by 2022. This will be the third link for Motorway 2 and will be completed before renovation work is carried out on the two existing tunnels. The new link will provide four lanes and ensure traffic flow continues while the existing links are improved. The construction of the third tunnel is expected to
July 24, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
RSSTwo key tunnel projects are being planned in Switzerland at present, for projects at Jura and Gothard. The Swiss Federal Department for Infrastructure Uvek now intends to build a third tunnel at Jura Mountain by 2022. This will be the third link for Motorway 2 and will be completed before renovation work is carried out on the two existing tunnels. The new link will provide four lanes and ensure traffic flow continues while the existing links are improved. The construction of the third tunnel is expected to cost €416.3 million (CHF500 million). Carrying out the upgrade works without the new tunnel and using partial closures of the existing link would cost some €333 million (CHF400 million), so the authorities have decided that the additional initial investment will provide long term value. Meanwhile debate continues over the proposed second Gothard tunnel, with the original link due to close for upgrades. The authorities in Uri Canton have announced opposition over plans to construct a second Gothard tunnel over concerns that this will increase vehicle traffic in the area. Instead, the authorities propose carrying cars by rail in a bid to reduce exhaust pollution.  But the Swiss Federal Council is in favour of a second road tunnel next to the existing Gothard tunnel.

Related Content

  • Panel supports €2.28bn Gotthard tunnel project, Switzerland
    August 29, 2013
    A new panel has been created in support of the €2.28 billion (CHF 2.8 billion) plan to build a new road tunnel alongside Switzerland’s Gotthard tunnel. The panel includes Filippo Lombardi, the president of the Council of States, and two national councillors, Olivier Français and Fabio Regazzi. The new road tunnel project will see full closure of the current 30-year-old road tunnel, one of Europe’s major north-south transit routes, for two-and-a-half years, as opposed to partial closure over a longer peri
    Read More
  • Russia's key highway development project
    February 8, 2012
    One of the largest construction programmes in Europe is being carried out to get a Russian resort ready for the Winter Olympics. Patrick Smith reports
    Read More
  • Russia's key highway development project
    May 28, 2012
    One of the largest construction programmes in Europe is being carried out to get a Russian resort ready for the Winter Olympics. Patrick Smith reports. Daytime temperatures top 30°C in September, and with hundreds of shops and hotels, it is not difficult to see why Sochi has become Russia's premier holiday playground. The city, on the east coast of the Black Sea, near the border with Georgia, bustles with tourists, and this is boosted with delegates at the 9th International Investment Forum Sochi 2010.
    Read More
  • Australia highway projects being planned
    November 24, 2015
    Key highway projects are progressing in Australia. In the state of Victoria, the authorities are planning a road widening project for the Monash Freeway that will cost an estimated US$289.54 million (A$400 million). The project calls for the route to be widened to five lanes in either direction for the stretch between the EastLink and the South Gippsland Highway.
    Read More

Highlighted Content