Gotthard road tunnel closed to traffic
The Gotthard road tunnel has been closed to traffic since Sunday afternoon. The reason for this is damage to the tunnel ceiling, as the Federal Roads Office writes. Until further notice, the tunnel remains closed to traffic.
On Sunday afternoon, September 10, shortly after 4 p.m., the Gotthard road tunnel had to be closed to traffic due to a technical defect in the intermediate ceiling. According to Astra, concrete parts had come loose near the north tunnel portal and fallen onto the carriageway. After corresponding reports were received by the cantonal police, the tunnel was immediately closed in both directions. No one was injured, according to the report.
According to Astra, an initial survey shows a crack in the false ceiling over a length of 25 meters. The exact extent of the damage and the cause are not yet known. Those responsible at Astra are working at full speed to determine the extent of the damage and to repair it. For safety reasons, the tunnel will remain closed to traffic until further notice. The duration of the closure is not yet known.
According to the information, traffic is being diverted over a wide area via the San Bernardino route (A 13) and via the Gotthard pass road. Heavy traffic that is already waiting in the heavy traffic control centers Giornico (TI) and Ripshausen (UR) for an onward journey will be held back.
