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Every year Easter days cause long traffic jams due to high traffic volumes. Especially in Gotthard, sun-seeking Easter travelers jostle until nothing works anymore. There are not only travelers to Ticino, but also vacationers to Italy and the Mediterranean.
This year, traffic jams may even reach record-breaking proportions, exceeding 22 kilometers with a waiting time of more than three and a half hours, as on Good Friday last year. In 1998 alone, Easter traffic has lasted longer since the Gotthard road tunnel opened in 1980!
Traffic on the north portal was already backed up by 14 kilometers last Saturday. Three factors are fueling the potential traffic jam of the century at Easter. After all, many Swiss are naturally drawn to Ticino for the holidays. Second, in many cantons, the spring break also begins with the Easter weekend. Thirdly, vacationers from many German federal states are also heading south – because holidays also begin here.
move south
As of today, Wednesday, the traffic density should be well above the normal level. According to Touring Club Schweiz’s (TCS) forecasts, things will get tighter on the Gotthard north portal from 8pm on Maundy Thursday; The traffic density will last from 12:00 until midnight. Good Friday night and there will be almost no relief between 6am and 8pm, the following should apply: Nothing works anymore! Only then should the traffic jam to the south gradually be resolved. If you want to cross into Italy by car, you will still have to wait at the Chiasso border crossing.
return journey to the north
For the return journey north, Easter Monday will be particularly severe: TCS expects long traffic jams at the south portal at Airolo TI between 12:00 and 22:00. These are likely to occur again and again the week after Easter – not everyone goes home right after the holidays. Many vacationers will return in just two weeks; at least this equalizes the return trip wave.
The question of all questions is: How do you avoid the potential traffic jam of the century? If you set off on a Wednesday or Maundy Thursday night or very early in the morning, you have a good chance of experiencing short-term traffic jams. But be careful: The tunnel is completely closed to private transport from Wednesday 23:00 to Thursday 01:00.
Passports are not an option
Eastern Switzerland prefers to take the A13 over San Bernardino instead of Gotthard. But this transition is no longer an inside tip; Here, too, higher traffic volumes can be expected. French-speaking Swiss, Great St. He can avoid Bernhard. You can also take the southbound car train from Mittelland via Lötschberg or Simplon – but these alternatives cost extra. Driving over passes rather than mountains is not a solution: most of the crossing roads are still closed for the winter.
Source: Blick
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
