Switzerland’s main north-south road artery, the A2 through the Gotthard Tunnel, ground to a crawl again on Sunday, 19 July 2026. According to the Touring Club of Switzerland (TCS), vehicles heading south faced a 12-kilometre tailback at the tunnel’s northern portal shortly after 11:30 a.m., translating into waits of around two hours. Smaller but still significant delays were also reported on the north-bound side, where congestion stretched up to six kilometres. The Gotthard corridor is not only a favourite summer route for Swiss holiday-makers bound for Ticino and Italy, but also the key freight and business-travel link between Germany, northern Switzerland and the Italian market. The latest jam comes at the height of Europe’s school-holiday season, when German, Dutch and Scandinavian tourists transit Switzerland in large numbers. Travel experts warn that capacity constraints inside the 17-kilometre single-tube tunnel leave little margin for surging demand, so even minor incidents such as breakdowns quickly cascade into multi-hour delays. TCS once again advised motorists—particularly time-critical travellers such as corporate shuttle drivers and logistics operators—to reroute via the A13 San-Bernardino Tunnel or to schedule crossings outside peak weekend hours. Freight forwarders moving time-sensitive goods, especially pharmaceuticals and fresh produce, were urged to factor the extra transit time into just-in-time delivery plans or consider rail alternatives via the 57-kilometre Gotthard Base Tunnel. The Federal Office for Roads (ASTRA) has acknowledged the recurring bottleneck but says substantive relief will only come once the second road tube—currently under construction—is completed in 2030. Until then, businesses dependent on cross-Alpine mobility will have to rely on real-time traffic apps and flexible routing. Hotels and corporate travel managers are already sending proactive alerts to guests and staff scheduled to fly from Milan or Zurich; several multinational firms told local media they now mandate an extra night’s stay in Ticino for employees driving south on summer Fridays. Analysts note that the recurring congestion is beginning to influence site-selection decisions for regional distribution centres: at least two e-commerce operators are reportedly weighing facilities north of the Alps to avoid unpredictable last-mile delays. In the short term, however, travellers have little option but patience—or very early departures—when crossing one of Europe’s busiest Alpine corridors.
Source: Nau.ch
