Where should we leave the A2 road so you don't get caught in the tunnel traffic?? Crossing the Gotthard mountain massif via the alpine pass however is still the most scenic and adventurous experience and sometimes the best alternative to avoid traffic before the tunnel. Crossing the San Gottardo pass is an adventure, no matter how you cross it. Gotthard Base Tunnel, Switzerland. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-60192102', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Airolo in Richtung Süd". Traffic jams on weekends take easily 5-10 km, can be more - check road information the day you travel. Ulrichen has some very lovely old barns and chalets in blackened wood right around the Nufenen Hotel, off the main road. I'm also interesterd in the "longer but very pretty" alternative. Going over the Gotthard massif allows you to see all the historic places that you usually miss out on. But I'll listen to the radio for traffic info like you suggest. I guess what you're saying is that the Pass is an extra 20 minutes journey. On approach to the St Gotthard road tunnel, there are signs for the St Gotthard Pass with indications as to whether the pass is open or closed. For public transport, there are two railway lines through different tunnels, and the postal bus through the pass road. Is that information also available in English? As noted above the tunnel is 17km long (just under actually), hence the distance. Summer drive through the swiss alps/Switzerland, Cost of snowboarding near Basel, or in Andermatt area. Tips about hiking in the high Alps available? Thank you. Please do tell me your field of expertise in the roadworks on the pass and I will defer to your greater knowledge. I hear there can be jams at the tunnel. Longer but very pretty and useful in case of jams before the tunnel and work on the pass. The longest sleigh runs of the Swiss Alps, The Leading Hotels Of The World in Swiss Alps, Hotels near Zermatt-Matterhorn Ski Paradise, Hotels near Matterhorn Museum - Zermatlantis. "Pore" says that is silly and the road is fine! Swiss Touring Club recommendation for this weekend is still to avoid St.Gotthard area. Europe - Gotthard Base Tunnel - Hi, I'm planning to travel to Switzerland in May 2017, and was planning to travel from Lucerne to Milan to especially enjoy the scenic beauty en-route. It isn't the pass that will be closed for repairs it is the tunnel. What is the journey time difference Tunnel vs Pass? And hopefully the road workers will be on holiday too! Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. Basel – Genoa via Great St. Bernhard pass 6 h 15 min 562 km . The Gotthard Pass leads through the Gotthard massif, but in the winter months it is not always open . more. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. During the week usually not much of a problem, at least to my experience no reason for not leaving the highway using the relatively long Göschenen exit lane just before the tunnel. Then from Oberwald drive to Ulrichen. is there usually adequate snow in first week of january? So I guess it's worth the gamble. But in case the waiting time is longer than 40/60 minutes the use of the old Gotthard Passroad will be not only the better solution, but also an opportunity to see a spectacular view. Which resort in saas fee open for skiing? Where exactly do you leave the A2 to take the Pass road? Probably a silly question, but I'll ask it anyway: at this website: http://www.gotthard-strassentunnel.ch/Webcams.149.0.html#c508. The tunnel is on an Autobahn/autostrada, road signs on green background; the pass is on a Kantonstrasse/strada cantonale, road signs on blue background. Each of the tunnels were considered to be the world's longest at the time of their construction. As we emerge on the German speaking northern side of the Gotthard Massif, the long ramp begins all over again, this time in a downward direction passing through many more spiral tunnels and avalanche shelters until reaching the terminus at Erstfeld. Wow what an incredibly rude reply. Better don’t look on a map - the serpentine twists may turn you away from the plan to drive the Gotthard Pass and you would miss out on a very impressive alpine driving adventure. Are Coocko clock still made in Switzerland or Germany? In just 20 minutes it gets you from Erstfeld, north of the Alps, to Bodio on the south side. Simple but with food. Tandem Paragliding Experience from Interlaken, Glacier Express Panoramic Train Round Trip in one Day Private Tour from Luzern, www.andermatt.ch/en/essen-schlafen/Alle-Unterkuenfte, Base for hiking in Val d' Anniviers without a car, Veteranarian recommendation needed for Saas-Fee. The Gotthard Railway tunnel opened in 1882 and dramatically reduced travel time through the Alps in this area. (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? From there drive over the Nufenen pass to the Val Bredretto (there is a café/restaurant at the top where you might have lunch and the view is breathtaking!) Do you get trapped in traffic jams when leaving for the Pass? When open I always use the pass road from Göschenen to Airolo, with a stop at Schöllenen, Andermatt or St.Gotthard. Do the webcams at http://www.gotthard-strassentunnel.ch/Webcams.149.0.html#c508 offer useful information? Look also at the Top Questions about Andermatt for some information. It stretches over 57 km, some 2,300 metres under rock. Also we are looking at good but cheap overnight accommodation before we go in to the tunnel - do you have any ideas please? Currently, we are counting 15 Saint Gotthard Pass traffic incidents. The (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Thank you kindly for this (again) very usuful information, Hamba :). Turn your radio on and listen the traffic news. We will be travelling via St Gotthard in late July. Highly appreciated! The Gotthard Road Tunnel in Switzerland runs from Göschenen in the canton of Uri at its northern portal, to Airolo in Ticino to the south, and is 16.9 kilometres (10.5 mi) in length below the St Gotthard Pass, a major pass of the Alps.At time of construction, in 1980, it was the longest road tunnel in the world; it is currently the fifth-longest. I hear there can be jams at the tunnel. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-57030150', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Andermatt might be a good place to stop (between Göschenen and St.Gotthard pass) or nearby Hospental. Amsteg at 16 km, Erstfeld at 23 km. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-57029791', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');San Gottardo pass road is easy to drive. Cross the Furka pass and come down into the Valais at Gletsch. On weekend check traffic information - Wassen exit might already be part of Saturday morning traffic jam. I have never heard them broadcast in English. Apparently the works will be suspended over the summer weekends so hopefully it will be clear. Thread Tools Search this Thread Sep 12th, 2012, 02:53 AM #1 MAURICIOB. Photo: Swiss Travel System; ... traders from the Romans onwards had to trudge across the Alps via the Gotthard Pass. And scenic. In 1708 the road was improved considerably and in 1775 we find documentation of the first carriage crossing, realized by the English geologist Greville. The world's longest rail tunnel is set to be unveiled June 1 in the Gotthard Pass linking Switzerland's Italian-speaking Canton Ticino and the German-speaking Uri Canton. Don't try to leave the highway for reentering at Göschenen - highway entrance will be closed. While the pass might take longer if there is no traffic in the tunnel it is also a much nicer way to cross the Alps, and cooler, with snow still around at the very top. When the St. Gotthard tunnel is blocked because of too much traffic, then you can bypass via the historic Gotthard Pass (Passo del San Gottardo). It may take a little longer (but not always) than waiting to go through the tunnel, but it is a whole lot more beautiful. Drive carefully and have a wonderful time. I travelled over the pass on Saturday the 26th July and again Saturday 10th August. GE - Zermatt to Chur vs Zermatt to St. Moritz. Is traffic just as bad then as during the day? Does my ViaMichelin trip to, from or through Saint Gotthard Pass take into account the traffic conditions in Saint Gotthard Pass? Three public busses (Andermatt-Airolo) cross the pass daily during summer months. Members who are extremely knowledgeable about this destination and answer travellers’ questions frequently. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Reply Subscribe . Are Coocko clock still made in Switzerland or Germany? But I find it a bit narrow. Continue your visit to www.tripadvisor.com, Get answers to your questions about Swiss Alps. Traffic jams on weekends take easily 5-10 km, can be more - … What is the journey time difference Tunnel vs Pass? Ian F, as you know better, just go ahead. This part will take about an hour. "Gotthardtunnel Göschenen in Richtung Süd", "Gotthardtunnel (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? As already mentioned: Göschenen is the normal highway exit for St.Gotthard mountain pass road (and last exit before St.Gotthard road tunnel). The pass will close sometime this autumn because of snow ands re o pen in the spring.o. Can I expect traffic to be the same / worse or better than last two Saturdays? Pass is quite nice. Wich are the most scenic railway-routes in the Swiss alps? (we have a good roaming data plan, so my wife can check the smartphone while I'm driving ...). I hear there can be jams at the tunnel. (any more news on the severity of the roadworks ?). If they say there is a traffic jam I would recommend to leave the motorway at Wassen and follow the blue signs to San Gottardo/Lugano. We will be travelling via St Gotthard in late July. Where exactly do you leave the A2 to take the Pass road? The electrification of the line in 1922 sped up the journey even further as better, faster trains could now quickly pass through the jagged peaks. Where exactly do you leave the A2 to take the Pass road? On the autobahn there will be a large sign giving the radio frequency to tune to to get up to the minute road reports on traffic. How much of a detour are we talking here? Thank you. Or is it in German/French only? Again, thank you so much for your time to answer! Where is the exit for the Pass? Zermatt to St. Moritz, scenic train trips, general advice... GE - Zermatt to Chur vs Zermatt to St. Moritz. As a rough guide, allow 15 minutes to transit the St Gotthard road tunnel and one hour to use the St Gotthard Pass, so an increase to the journey time of 45 minutes or so. So maybe the tunnel is better. If you stop to visit the Furka Glacier (park at the kiosk after the Belvedere Hotel and walk in to the glacier) of course it will be correspondingly longer. Which resort in saas fee open for skiing? and down to Airolo. It lies at the heart of the Gotthard axis and constitutes the third tunnel connecting the cantons of Uri and Ticino, after the Gotthard Tunnel and the Gotthard Road Tunnel. We will be travelling via St Gotthard in late July. Are there statistics about average waiting times / date or / hour of the day? Good news and thanks for telling us I am sure the views were lovely too. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-60078533', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Furka pass into the Valais and then the Nufenen into the Val Bedretto. to. As already mentioned: Göschenen is the normal highway exit for St.Gotthard mountain pass road (and last exit before St.Gotthard road tunnel). Compare driving time via tunnel or via pass with route planners such as www.viamichelin.ch. I expect to be arriving at the Gotthard Tunnel around 7 in the evening (19h00). Traffic jams are expected at St.Gotthard tunnel South entrance this Saturday between 11 and Sunday 1h (Friday 10 to 23 h, Sunday from 11 to 21 h). If I look at the webcams now (about 8h30 in the evening (20h30)), there seems to be virtually no traffic at the Gotthard tunnel! The link consists of two single-track tunnels connecting Erstfeld (Uri) with Bodio (Ticino) and passing below Sedrun ( Graubünden ). The Gotthard Pass lies at the hearth of the Gotthard, an important north-south axis in Europe, and it is crossed by three major traffic tunnels, each being the world's longest at the time of their construction: the Gotthard Rail Tunnel (1882), the Gotthard Road Tunnel (1980) and the Gotthard Base Tunnel (2016). Hi, I cannot give details about exits etc. is there usually adequate snow in first week of january? Less from south to north. Göschenen to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Next time I will have him drive me over it!! Traffic seems to peak between 0800 and 1600 - this last Saturday the radio announced waiting time of 2 hours with jams of 12km going from north to south. Do you get trapped in traffic jams when leaving for the Pass? St Gotthard Pass in the Swiss Alps - everything you would expect from such a road: tunnels, serpentine twists, turns and incredible scenery. Christmas/New Year's in France & Switzerland, Best mountain town summer - Zematt, Grindelwald or Villars. This is useful information! Follow signs for the Furka Pass. In your place I would listen to the radio, see what the jams are (how intense) and make a decision accordingly. Amsteg at 16 km, Erstfeld at 23 km. We have relied on out Tom Tom to guide us and never hit traffic so it must send us off at the right time. Webcams on both entrances/exits so that you can see the traffic flow in and out of the tunnel. The first road over the pass was opened in 1830. Nufenen Pass (to Ulrichen) BTW the Nufenen is not at all like the others. Main traffic jams in front of St.Gotthard road tunnel are on weekends in July and August (plus other vacation breaks such as Easter). We'll probably only do this once so it's important to get it right. Almost 10,000 passengers and around 67,000 tonnes of freight pass through the 57-kilometre-long Gotthard Base Tunnel each day. A brief history of the pass and the building of the tunnel itself, interjects our journey through the 9 mile long double track tunnel. The new Gotthard base tunnel is the longest railway tunnel in the world, and is the epitome of Swiss precision, innovation and reliability. Related: What are the most popular tours in Swiss Alps? The Gotthard Pass is known as the “people’s route”, a name that fittingly illustrates its function in the past, namely that of comfortable route for people but a less comfortable one for goods. All those helpful hints that make a journey less stressful and more interesting. Also - is the gotthard pass (rather than the tunnel) worth it for the extra time? Mark. The Tunnel was build to avoid to drive along the Gotthard Pass and have a quicker drive trough the Tunnel. Enjoy the detour, after all we spend most of our time thrashing down the motorways it is a nice change of pace and scenery. (Would be useful for tourists if they did and perhaps they do. By 1980, a car tunnel, the third longest road tunnel in the world, was opened. ALL roadworks were suspended for those days so there were no delays over the pass at all and long delys at the tunnel. And if you are "counting cantons" you will have been in Uri, the Valais and the Ticino all in the space of a couple of hours! The Gotthard Road Tunnel in Switzerland runs from Göschenen in the canton of Uri at its northern portal, to Airolo in Ticino to the south, and is 16.9 kilometres in length below the St Gotthard Pass, a major pass … Should we go via the the Pass or Tunnel? A scenic route is following Lake Lucerne north and east shore, roughly from Küssnacht (am Rigi) to Brunnen to Flüelen (or even Altdorf for a place to stay). Not my favourite pass traffic to be the world 's longest at the of. 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