North Portal (Göschenen)
Currently, there is light traffic at North Portal (Göschenen) with a waiting time of 1 minute, which corresponds to a congestion length of 100 meters. This information is crucial for travelers planning their journey through one of the busiest tunnels in Switzerland. Please consider this waiting time in your travel plans.
Waiting time
1 minute
Light traffic
Congestion length
100 meters
Data fetched at: 22:08:05
Disclaimer: The traffic data is updated periodically and may not represent real-time conditions.
Göschenen North Portal: Gotthard Road Tunnel
The North Portal of the Gotthard Road Tunnel is located in Göschenen, canton of Uri, Switzerland. It marks the northern entrance to one of Europe's most important Alpine transit routes and is a key point for traffic heading south towards Ticino and Italy.
Location and Coordinates
| Municipality | Göschenen, Canton Uri |
| Coordinates | 46.6681° N, 8.5863° E |
| Elevation | 1,080 m above sea level |
| Distance from Zurich | approx. 115 km via A2 motorway |
| Distance from Lucerne | approx. 55 km via A2 motorway |
About the Gotthard Road Tunnel
The Gotthard Road Tunnel stretches 16.9 kilometres from Göschenen (north) to Airolo (south), connecting German-speaking central Switzerland with the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino. Since its inauguration on 5 September 1980, it has been a cornerstone of European north–south transit.
A single tube carries two lanes of traffic in opposite directions. At the enforced speed limit of 80 km/h, the transit takes approximately 12–15 minutes under normal conditions.
Safety Systems
The tunnel is equipped with comprehensive safety infrastructure maintained by Skyguide and ASTRA:
- Ventilation: A complex ventilation system maintains air quality throughout the tunnel
- Emergency telephones: Available every 125 metres on both sides of the carriageway
- Fire extinguishers: Positioned at 50-metre intervals throughout
- Emergency laybys: Located approximately every 1 km for broken-down vehicles
- CCTV: Continuous video surveillance by the tunnel control centre in Göschenen
- Variable message signs: Display current speed limits and incident warnings
In the event of a breakdown or emergency, switch on hazard lights, pull into the nearest emergency layby, and use the orange emergency telephone. Do not attempt repairs inside the tunnel.
Nearby Facilities
Northbound (approaching from Zurich / Lucerne):
| Facility | Distance | Services |
|---|---|---|
| Göschenen village | 0.5 km | Basic services |
| Wassen rest area | approx. 12 km | Parking, toilets, picnic area |
| Erstfeld service station | approx. 25 km | Fuel, food, toilets, EV charging |
| Altdorf (Uri) | approx. 35 km | Full range of services |
Refuelling tip: Fill up before joining the A2 motorway south of Flüelen. The nearest fuel is at Erstfeld, approximately 25 km from the portal. In a summer queue this can take 30–40 minutes to reach.
Typical Traffic and Queue Patterns
Traffic volumes at the Göschenen North Portal vary considerably by day of week and season.
During peak periods, queues of 5–15+ km are possible:
- Saturday mornings in summer (July–August): Southbound holiday traffic towards Ticino and Italy. Queues typically build from around 08:00 and can reach 15 km by mid-morning, with waiting times exceeding 90 minutes.
- Easter and Whitsun weekends: Similar pattern to summer Saturdays on the outward leg.
- Friday evenings (southbound): Weekend departures from Zurich, Lucerne, and Berne.
- Ferragosto (mid-August): Returning Italian holidaymakers add to the already high southbound volume , one of the busiest weekends of the summer.
Low-traffic windows:
- Early mornings (05:00–07:00) even in peak season
- Weekdays (Tuesday–Thursday) outside school holidays
- Late evenings (21:00 onwards)
Seasonal note: Winter (November–March) sees far lighter traffic overall. The Gotthard Pass road is closed by snow, channelling all traffic through the tunnel, but total volumes remain manageable outside public holidays.
Alternative Routes
When queues at Göschenen are long, two alternatives are worth considering:
- Gotthard Pass road (open approx. June–October): Takes 20–30 minutes longer but is usually queue-free. Worth considering when tunnel waiting times exceed 30 minutes.
- San Bernardino Tunnel (via Chur, year-round): Adds approximately 45 minutes to the journey but is rarely congested. The best option during major traffic events.