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DRIVING

Traffic: What you can expect during the Ascension weekend in Switzerland

As numerous motorists are setting off for the four-day holiday weekend, drivers are warned to expect a significant volume of traffic and bottlenecks on Swiss roads.

Published: 8 May 2024 13:05 CEST
Traffic: What you can expect during the Ascension weekend in Switzerland
Expect heavy traffic on Swiss roads this weekend. Photo by Kathy on Unsplash

The heavier-than-usual traffic is expected on the A2 and A13 motorways, but not only.

The  traffic ‘hot spots’ from today until Sunday will be the same as before and after every public holiday or holiday weekend, according to motoring association Touring Club Suisse (TCS).

For instance, in the Gotthard tunnel, the first traffic jams are expected at the north entrance today and continue on the Ascension day on Thursday.

On Friday, traffic should flow relatively smoothly, but bottlenecks are to  expected when people return home on Sunday May 12th.

Just to give you a ‘foretaste’ of what the traffic could be like in the Gotthard:  22,745 vehicles passed through the tunnel on Ascension Day in 2023. On the return trip, 24,805 drove through the tunnel.

This resulted in 10-km-long bottlenecks on Ascension Thursday, which means waits of around two hours, according to TCS.

What you should know (and do)  if you plan to drive through the Gotthard?

“Leave the day before, or very early in the morning, or in evening, and try alternative routes, when possible,” TCS spokesperson Laurent Pignot said.

But don’t expect to be the only motorist on the alternative routes, because they too are usually quite congested during holiday weekends, Pignot pointed out.

There are two south-bound roads, especially for motorists from the French-speaking regions:  the Mont-Blanc and the Grand-Saint-Bernard tunnels.

However, Mont-Blanc will be very busy because Ascension is a public holiday in France as well. 

“The peak of the wave of returns is expected on Sunday May 12th between 4 pm and 9 pm, although the entire day will be characterised by very heavy traffic until 11 pm,” according to Pignot.

As for the Great Saint-Bernard, it will experience traffic peaks today and Thursday from 6 am, and until the end of the afternoon.

On return, expect congestion from about 10 am until late at night.

Travellers from the Swiss-German areas can detour via the San Bernardino, though disruptions can’t be ruled out on that road as well.

Other alternatives are the Lötschberg and Simplon railway tunnels.

You can see which motorways and main roads to avoid, here. 

And keep in mind that very same roads / tunnels will also be congested during the Pentecost weekend, from May 18th to 20th.

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DRIVING

The roads and tunnels in Switzerland where drivers need to pay a toll

While you’re likely to encounter some of the most spectacular scenery as you drive through Switzerland, you may also experience an eye-watering fine if you’re unaware of the tolls that may apply. 

Published: 14 May 2024 09:50 CEST
The roads and tunnels in Switzerland where drivers need to pay a toll

Here is where you’ll need to be fully paid-up while driving through the alpine nation – and where further charges can apply. 

Mandatory motorway vignettes

Suppose you’re planning on driving on any of the country’s motorways or expressways (those designated on maps and signs with an A followed by a number). In that case, you’ll need to pay 40 CHF for a vignette each year – either displayed as a sticker on your car or tied electronically to your car’s licence plate. 

If you get caught without one—cameras are everywhere—you may be fined 200 CHF for each infraction. 

Thankfully, the Swiss make it very easy to obtain a vignette. 

They can be purchased at border crossings, post offices and petrol stations. You can also buy the e-vignette online here – Swiss authorities have warned motorists to avoid purchasing it from other sources, which add a markup. 

READ MORE: What you need to know about Switzerland’s motorway vignette

Tolls for tunnels 

While a motorway vignette will be enough to drive around most of Switzerland, there are exceptions where you’ll need to pay extra. 

The first is the Munt la Schera Tunnel which connects the Engadin valley in the canton of Graubünden with the Lago di Livigno reservoir that borders Italy. 

Initially constructed to move building materials, the three-and-a-half-kilometre tunnel is still privately owned by a local power company, so it is permitted to charge an extra toll. 

Fees vary depending on your kind of vehicle, whether you’re making a return journey, and the time of year—the current price schedule is available here. The toll is paid at either side of the tunnel. 

As a single-lane tunnel, the direction of travel alternates every fifteen minutes, so drivers can expect a short wait. 

Cyclists are not permitted to use the tunnel, although there are shuttle buses that can transport bikes. 

READ MORE: The new laws drivers in Switzerland need to know.

Two rail tunnels offer a car transport service for an additional fee. 

The first is the twenty-kilometre Simplon tunnel between Brig in the canton of Valais and Domodossola in Italy. 

The second is the fourteen-kilometre Lötschberg tunnel between Kandersteg in the canton of Bern and Goppenstein in the canton of Valais. 

Each journey takes about twenty minutes, and tickets can be purchased for the Simplon tunnel here and the Lötschberg tunnel here. 

The final toll tunnel—and arguably the most famous one—is the Grand-Saint-Bernard tunnel, which charges a toll and connects Martigny in the canton of Valais with the Aosta valley in Italy. 

Consisting of two lanes, the tunnel stretches six kilometres through the Alps. 

Much like the Munt la Schera tunnel, there is a schedule of fees, and the kind of vehicle determines prices, as well as whether you intend to return via the tunnel. Again, the toll can be paid at either entrance. 

Despite some recent media speculation, the Swiss Federal Council has opposed the idea of introducing further tolls on the Gotthard and San Bernardino tunnels. Instead, other strategies are currently being explored to combat the ongoing problem of traffic congestion.

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