TCS: Traffic jams on the Gotthard
NOTE THE DRIVING TIMES Around Ascension Day and Whitsun, many drivers will once again be on their way south, and the increased volume of traffic will, as every year, bring with it a few hours of congestion. The TCS provides tips.
Over the long weekend on Ascension Day, numerous travelers will once again be using the Swiss transport routes. Although traffic jams will not be as long as at Easter, many will still be traveling on the Gotthard route. The first congestion will form at the north portal on Wednesday, May 8. However, there will also be waiting times on Ascension Thursday. The traffic situation should have calmed down by Friday morning.
Patience is required
The TCS recommends traveling overnight, from Thursday to Friday or early Friday morning. Return traffic is expected on Sunday, May 12. On the return journey last year, the traffic jam in front of the south portal peaked at midday on Sunday with eight kilometers and a waiting time of almost one and a half hours. Road users heading south will also have to be patient before leaving for Italy at the Chiasso border crossing.
Many travelers will also be on the road over the Whitsun weekend. The most intense traffic situation in front of the Gotthard Tunnel can be expected on the outward journey on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, and the traffic jam is unlikely to ease overnight. For the return journey, the most cars will be on the road on Whit Monday, May 20, and on Tuesday.
Alternative routes
To avoid long traffic jams, the TCS recommends traveling there before Pentecost on Friday morning, May 17. Here the traffic jams should be limited until around 11 am. It is also worth setting off on Saturday night or early Saturday morning.
For travelers from the greater Zurich area and eastern Switzerland, it is worth taking the San Bernardino route. This alternative is recommended by the Federal Roads Office (Astra) as soon as the waiting time in front of the Gotthard tunnel exceeds one hour. However, there may also be delays on the alternative route. If you are traveling south from the Mittelland, you can take the Lötschberg and Simplon routes. Travelers from western Switzerland have the option of driving through the Great St. Bernard Pass. Compared to the Gotthard tunnel, however, there is a charge for driving through the St. Bernard tunnel.
