Gigantic Whitsun traffic jam on the Gotthard: 20 kilometer long waiting time!

Gigantic Whitsun traffic jam on the Gotthard: 20 kilometer long waiting time!

On Whit Saturday, the traffic situation in front of the Gotthard north portal in Göschenen was extremely tense. The traffic jam reached a length of 20 kilometers, which resulted in travelers losing over three hours of time. At 7 a.m. the traffic jam was already 17 kilometers long, which indicates a high volume of traffic. Traffic jams also formed between Beckenried and the Altdorf junction, while the Seelisberg tunnel was briefly closed several times. In order to regulate traffic, the police had to intervene on the cantonal road to keep it free for local, private and public transport as well as emergency vehicles, reports bzbasel.ch.

The Federal Roads Office (Astra) recommended that travelers use the A13 motorway via the San Bernardino Tunnel as an alternative route. However, this route was not without problems either, as drivers had to expect a time loss of up to two hours between Bad Ragaz and the Isla Bella tunnel. Many drivers preferred to use the Gotthard Pass as it was open to traffic and exited the A2 at Erstfeld, as also noted by Astra. However, the authority advised against leaving the A2 to avoid further congestion on local roads.

Record traffic jams and traffic forecasts

Historical data shows that there have been record-breaking traffic jams on Pentecost in the past. In 1999 and 2018, traffic jam lengths of 28 kilometers were recorded. The omens for 2023 were also not good, as there was already heavy Pentecost traffic on the A2 on Friday, supported by the tunnel being closed for over two and a half hours due to a vehicle fire, as was the case augsburger- Allgemeine.de reported. The Gotthard Tunnel itself, which is the longest road tunnel in the Alps at 16.9 kilometers long, is used by around six million vehicles every year.

Although the Gotthard road tunnel is a crucial transport axis for Switzerland, there are always bottlenecks. 2019 data shows that Pentecost saw 25% more traffic than normal weekends, with an average wait time of 56 minutes. Similar traffic volumes are expected for the 2023 summer holidays and Touring Club Suisse recommends traveling on Tuesdays or Thursdays to avoid longer waiting times.

Traffic jam forecasts and advice

Drivers should pay attention to current traffic information in order to recognize traffic jams and traffic delays in good time. The TCS issues daily reports on the traffic situation at the Gotthard Tunnel to keep travelers up to date. Webcams on the tunnel also provide up-to-date information and enable better planning of the trip.

Overall, it can be seen that the Gotthard Tunnel is still one of the largest traffic jams in Switzerland. Block handling occurs, especially when there is overload, which can further aggravate the situation. It therefore remains important for travelers and commuters to prepare well and, if necessary, consider alternative routes in order to minimize loss of time.