In the Swiss Alps, an official start was made last week on the construction of a second Gotthard tunnel. This second tunnel tube will be located just under one hundred meters to the east of the current one.
The work was originally supposed to begin a year ago, but had to be postponed due to the risk of coronavirus infections.
The opening ceremony consisted of blowing up the first rock blocks of the new tunnel entrances and exits. Around 150 guests attended the ceremony under the watchful eyes of the statue of St. Barbara, patron saint of miners.
Preparatory work for the second tube already began in the spring of last year. This included, for example, relocating the entrance to the service and infrastructure tunnels in Göschenen and Airolo.
The second connection, spanning more than 16 kilometers between Göschenen and Airolo, will be put into use in 2029. Midway between the two tunnel tubes, there will also be a connecting tunnel for maintenance and safety purposes.
The Swiss road authority says that the Gotthard connection is an important traffic artery in Switzerland. During the excavation and drilling of the second tunnel tube, 7.4 million tons of material will be produced. Drilling and work will take place simultaneously from both sides. The major breakthrough is scheduled for 2026. The first Gotthard tube will be renovated starting in 2029.
The tunnel boring machines will start in 2024 and the construction, which will cost 2.14 billion Swiss francs, will be opened to traffic at the end of 2029. The first tube, which opened in 1980, will then be closed for three years for renovation. Afterward, traffic will be diverted separately, with one lane per tube.