Motorists and coach operators breathed a sigh of relief at 05:00 this morning when the north–south Gotthard road tunnel reopened to traffic after four consecutive nights of maintenance closures. According to the Touring Club Switzerland (TCS), the tunnel was fully closed from 21 to 25 September between 20:00 and 05:00, allowing engineers to install new fire-suppression sensors and inspect ventilation shafts ahead of the busy autumn-holiday rush. The Gotthard is Europe’s fourth-longest road tunnel and a critical freight and leisure artery linking German-speaking Switzerland with the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino and onward to Milan. Each nightly shutdown forces a 65-km diversion over the alpine pass or a 180-km detour via the San Bernardino route, adding hours and emissions to journeys and straining logistics schedules for just-in-time deliveries. TCS data show that despite the closures, daytime traffic queues remained moderate, largely because logistics firms shifted heavy-goods movements to daylight slots and local authorities staggered tunnel access for oversized loads. Nevertheless, cargo planners and bus operators are urged to prepare for the next maintenance window scheduled from 28 September to 2 October, with identical hours. The Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) has signalled further two-night blocks in early October and warns that additional ad-hoc restrictions could follow if sensor calibration tests require re-work. Global mobility and relocation specialists should brief assignees moving household goods by road and employees commuting to Ticino on the likely delays. Companies running inter-office shuttles between Zurich and Lugano may wish to advance departure times or switch to the Gotthard Base Rail Tunnel services, which continue to operate normally and accept most long-distance travel passes.
