The Swiss Federal Roads Office (ASTRA) has announced that the A13 San Bernardino route will be closed nightly from 22:00 to 05:00 between 11–16 October and again from 25–30 October 2026 for tunnel maintenance near Pian San Giacomo. The works will halt all through-traffic, forcing drivers to choose either cantonal detours or the parallel A2 Gotthard axis. Traffic analysts warn that the diversion could add more than 2,000 extra vehicles per night to the already strained Gotthard Tunnel and Pass. Night-time traffic poses unique safety challenges: reduced visibility, driver fatigue and the risk of sudden alpine weather changes on the 2,106-metre Gotthard Pass road. Tunnel operators plan to reinforce staffing, while canton police in Uri and Ticino will deploy additional patrols and dynamic lane controls to mitigate the impact. For freight forwarders, the timing is awkward. Many heavy-goods vehicles prefer the A13 corridor at night to avoid daytime bans on certain stretches in neighbouring Italy. Companies must now budget for longer detours or reschedule shipments outside the closure windows. Failure to adapt could jeopardise just-in-time deliveries to northern Italian factories and Swiss retail distribution centres. ASTRA advises private motorists to postpone non-essential night journeys or to travel during daytime hours when the A13 remains open. Real-time updates will be published via the Gotthard Traffic platform, on Twitter/X (@astra_ch) and through Swiss radio traffic bulletins. Travellers attempting the Gotthard Pass should monitor weather forecasts closely; early-season snow has already dusted the summit once this month.
Source: Gotthard Traffic
