Gotthard Tunnel 2026: Night closures completed, traffic jam forecast for the end of the year

Anyone driving by car through Switzerland to Italy can hardly avoid the Gotthard Tunnel. In early August 2026, waiting times of more than three hours threatened in both directions, and in August as well as in September and October several night closures followed due to maintenance work. As of October 2026: These night closures have been completed. Things could get busy again around the end of the year — you'll find the forecast for that below.

The Gotthard road tunnel is located on the A2 between Göschenen and Airolo. The tunnel is 16.9 kilometres long and is one of the most important north-south connections for drivers heading to Ticino, northern Italy, or further south.

Traffic jam forecast: early August and the end of 2026

According to the forecast, things were especially tight between 1 and 8 August 2026. Heading south, vehicles could face tailbacks of up to eleven kilometres before the tunnel, with waiting times of at least two hours and 45 minutes.

On the return journey, it could take even longer. Heading north, 8 August was considered the most difficult day, with tailbacks of up to 13 kilometres and waiting times of more than three hours. The situation eased from 9 August heading south, and from 18 August heading north.

In September and October, traffic during the day was mostly normal to moderate, with no longer waiting times. Things could get busy again towards the end of the year: for 20, 22 and 26 December, very heavy traffic and tailbacks of up to eight kilometres are expected heading south.

Additional night closures from 10 to 28 August 2026 (completed)

In addition to the expected traffic jams in early August, there were further restrictions: the Gotthard road tunnel was closed from 10 to 28 August 2026 for maintenance work on a total of twelve nights, each from 11 pm to 5 am. The reason was precautionary work on the tunnel's intermediate ceiling. This was intended to prevent tension from building up there, which could later lead to unplanned restrictions or closures. No work took place on the nights of Friday to Saturday, Saturday to Sunday, or Sunday to Monday, so that the tunnel remained fully available during the busiest weekend travel periods. Anyone travelling on the affected nights could use the Gotthard Pass road as an alternative route.

Night closures in September and October 2026 (completed)

From September, the Gotthard Tunnel was closed at night in several phases. The work took place outside peak travel times and did not affect weekends. In the first phase, the tunnel remained closed for up to seven hours at a time, later up to nine hours at a time.

Closures took place on the following dates:

• 7 to 11 September 2026: four nights from Monday evening to Friday morning, each from 10 pm to 5 am

• 14 to 18 September 2026: four nights, each from 8 pm to 5 am

• 21 to 25 September 2026: four nights, each from 8 pm to 5 am

• 28 September to 2 October 2026: four nights, each from 8 pm to 5 am

• 5 to 7 October 2026: two nights, each from 8 pm to 5 am

In total, that amounted to 18 night closures in early autumn. In addition, regardless of the maintenance work, the tunnel is regularly closed every Wednesday between 11 pm and 1 am for a time slot reserved for special transports.

Important: Even outside such closure periods, you should check the current closure times before a night-time journey through the Gotthard and, if necessary, take an alternative route or travel during the day instead.

What alternatives are there?

In the event of heavy traffic jams or night closures, the A13 via the San Bernardino route through Chur and Bellinzona is particularly recommended. The Gotthard Pass can also be an alternative, although not for vehicles with a camping trailer. Other alternative routes run via Simplon, Grimsel and Nufenen. However, these usually take considerably longer and can themselves become overloaded in the event of heavy diversion traffic.

In practical terms, this means: plan your alternatives in advance, not only once you're stuck in traffic in front of the tunnel portal. It's worth checking current waiting times and webcam information just before setting off.

Tolls in Switzerland

Anyone driving through the Gotthard to Italy should keep Switzerland's toll rules briefly in mind. Unlike in Austria, there is no short-term vignette, and the weight limit is based on the permissible gross vehicle weight (GVW), including occupants. You'll find an overview in our guide to tolls in Switzerland.

Annual vignette

For cars, motorcycles, trailers and vehicles up to 3.5 t GVW, the Swiss annual vignette (digital or as a sticker) applies on all motorways and expressways (national roads, marked in green). The Gotthard Tunnel and most other motorway tunnels (such as San Bernardino) are covered by the vignette. Our guide to vehicle classes explains in detail which vehicles require a vignette.

Heavy vehicle charge

If the GVW exceeds 3.5 t, the vignette requirement no longer applies. Instead, the heavy vehicle charge applies: either as a flat-rate PSVA (for example for heavy motorhomes) or as a performance-related LSVA (based on kilometres driven and weight, mainly for goods transport). You can find details in our guide to the heavy vehicle charge.

Special tolls

On a few routes, an additional special toll applies on top of the vignette or heavy vehicle charge: at the Great St Bernard Tunnel and the Munt la Schera Tunnel. The Gotthard itself is not among them. You can find more information in our guides on special tolls and tunnels and passes in Switzerland.

Car trains

As an alternative to the pass and tunnel, Switzerland offers car-carrying trains (car trains), for example via Furka, Lötschberg, Simplon or Vereina. For these, you need a separate ticket from the respective operator; the annual vignette does not cover this. You can find more information about car trains in our guide to car-carrying trains.

Tolls in Italy

Anyone continuing on to Italy switches to a different system: Italy has no vignette, but instead a distance-based motorway toll. You can find out more in our guide to tolls in Italy. You can use our route planner to help plan your trip.

The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey!

With enough time buffer, up-to-date traffic reports, and a clear alternative to the Gotthard route, you can travel to Italy and back more relaxed, even in high summer and autumn. If you have any questions about the digital vignette or tolls in Switzerland, you can reach us anytime by email.