Traffic Milestone for the construction of the second tube through the Gotthard
Since Friday, two large tunnel boring machines have been responsible for excavating the second tube of the Gotthard road tunnel. The commissioning of the machines is "a milestone for Switzerland's most important north-south link", said Federal Councillor Albert Rösti.
14.02.2025, 11:11
14.02.2025, 15:13
SDA
Rösti made his remarks this morning at the launch ceremony for the "Paulina" tunnel boring machine in Airolo TI. "Paulina" is 150 meters long and has a drill head with a diameter of over twelve meters. "The impressive tunnel boring machine that is being used here is a symbol of innovation and technical excellence," said Rösti according to the manuscript.
In the afternoon, the program in Göschenen UR included the inauguration ceremony for the machine, which bores its way through the Gotthard from the north. The two machines were manufactured in Germany and have been assembled on site since last summer.
According to the Federal Roads Office (Astra), the tunnel boring machines will advance an average of 18 meters per day. They should reach the approximate middle of the 17-kilometre-long tunnel in spring 2027. Two geological fault zones, each 350 meters long, will be excavated conventionally using excavators.
The second tube is due to be completed in 2030 and will initially be operated with two-way traffic for three years so that the first tube, opened in 1980, can be renovated. Traffic will then be routed through the two tubes in a single lane.
"Political foresight"
The construction of the second tunnel tube was approved by voters in 2016. According to the text of his speech, Rösti praised this decision "as a sign of political foresight". Without the second tube, Ticino would have been isolated during the renovation of the first tube.
Construction work on the second tunnel tube had already begun in 2020 with preparatory work. Facilities were also built so that the large quantities of rock that are excavated from the Gotthard can be processed.
Some of the excavated material will be used in Airolo to cover the freeway and thus improve the valley floor, which is dominated by traffic, while some will be poured into Lake Uri for renaturation measures. In addition, excavated material is processed into concrete on site and used for tunnel construction.
