Switzerland: A2 East Bypass Basel Restricted on Five Weekends (September/October 2026)
The A2 Osttangente in Basel will have restricted traffic flow between 4 September and 5 October 2026 on five weekends, each from Friday or Saturday evening 9 pm until Monday morning 5 am. The reason is the installation of a new, low-noise surface layer in the area of the Bäumlihof Bridge and the Schwarzwald Tunnel. The Osttangente is one of the busiest connections between Switzerland, Germany and France.
Anyone travelling via Basel towards Germany or France in September or early October should factor the closure times into their route planning.
Which dates are affected?
The works are spread over five weekends: 4 to 7 September, 11 to 14 September, 18 to 21 September, 26 to 28 September and 3 to 5 October 2026. From 18 to 21 September 2026, a short section will additionally be completely closed at times in both directions; on the remaining weekends, one lane per direction will generally remain open. Also affected are the Wettsteinallee, Zürcherstrasse, Riehenstrasse, Freiburgerstrasse and Badenstrasse entry and exit ramps, which will be closed at times.
Effects for travellers heading to Germany and France
Traffic to and from Germany will be diverted via Basel's city road network during the closure periods, resulting in additional traffic in the city centre. Towards France, passage via the A2 remains generally possible, albeit with the same capacity restrictions. ASTRA recommends avoiding the route entirely during the closure periods if possible, or allowing for significantly more travel time, for example for trips to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg or to train connections.
Toll in Switzerland
In Switzerland, the toll is collected via three forms of levy. For vehicles up to 3.5 t gross weight, i.e. cars, motorcycles and motorhomes, the vignette requirement applies, whereby only an annual vignette is available in Switzerland, with no shorter validity periods. For vehicles over 3.5 t gross weight, the performance-related heavy vehicle charge (LSVA) applies instead. In addition, the Grand St. Bernard Tunnel and the Munt la Schera Tunnel represent two separate special toll routes, which apply independently of the vignette or LSVA. More on this in the guide Toll in Switzerland.
Anyone who regularly travels through several countries often benefits from the Europamaut flat rate for €12.80 a month: vignettes for all eight supported countries can be activated via a single subscription, with no commitment and the option to cancel at any time.
The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey!
If you are travelling via the A2 through Basel in September or early October, allow sufficient time buffer for the weekend closures. You can find everything about the vignette requirement in Switzerland on our Switzerland overview page, and details on the border crossings on the Switzerland-Germany border and Switzerland-France border pages. If you have any questions, you can reach us at any time by email.
Frequently Asked Questions About the A2 Closure in Basel
The most important answers about the weekend closures of the East Bypass.
Is the A2 Osttangente in Basel completely closed?
No, on most of the five weekends one lane per direction remains open to traffic. Only from September 18 to 21, 2026, will a short section be temporarily fully closed in both directions.
