Avoiding Traffic Congestion in Switzerland this Summer: Locating Unclogged Roads to Navigate Smoothly
Heads Up: Chaotic Swiss Roads Ahead!
Summer's here, and with public schools taking their break starting from June 29th, several cantons like Basel-City, Geneva, and Vaud included, traffic chaos has already become an unwelcomed guest on Swiss highways. Buckle up, because it's about to get worse!
Jam-packed roads, especially on weekends, will make already common traffic bottlenecks on Swiss motorways even more aggravating. And guess where the traffic hell will unfold? You better brace yourself for the A2 and in the Zurich, Bern, Basel, Lucerne, and Lugano regions, around the Gotthard Tunnel, and on the San Bernardino road – just to name a few hotspots.
Southbound, traffic jams and restrictions will wave their ugly heads mainly in July and August, while northbound traffic will be a nightmare from mid-July to mid-September, particularly in good weather. So, plan accordingly and avoid the following roads if you're looking for a stress-free drive:
Motorways
- A1, Geneva (including the Bardonnex border crossing)
- A1, Kirchberg - Schönbühl
- A1, Härkingen - Wangen
- ... A.A1, Aarau-West - Birrfeld
- A2/A3, Basel (including border crossings with France and Germany)
- A2, Belchen Tunnel - Härkingen
- A2/A14, Lucerne region
- A2, Altdorf - Biasca (Gotthard road tunnel)
- A2, Lugano - Chiasso (departures to Italy)
- A3, Walenstadt - Reichenburg
- A4, Adlikon - Winterthur-Nord
- A4, Axenstrasse (Seewen - Flüelen)
- A8, Interlaken - Spiez
- A8, Sarnen - Lopper interchange
- A9, La Veyre/Vevey - Bex-Nord
- A12, Châtel-St-Denis - La Veyre/Vevey
- A13, Sarganserland - Thusis-Sud
- A13, Andeer - Mesocco
- A15, Hegnau - Brüttisellen
- A16, Courgenay - Glovelier
Main roads and customs posts:
- Spiez - Kandersteg (outbound journeys)
- Gampel - Goppenstein (return journeys)
- Brunnen - Flüelen (Axenstrasse)
- Göschenen - Andermatt
- Raron - Brig
- Bellinzona - Locarno
- Various main roads in the Bernese Oberland, Graubünden, and the Valais side valleys
If you find yourself stuck in traffic, resist the urge to switch to local roads. The ASTRA (Federal Roads Office) warns that doing so puts unnecessary strain on town residents and ultimately halts traffic flow. Instead, bite the bullet and stay on the highway, for the sake of your fellow road-trippers and the local populace.
In other baking-in-the-sun news, SBB railways have repair work lined up on the Simplon Tunnel, causing BLS trains to transport cars every two hours instead of every 1.5 hours until July 27th. This means longer waiting times for passengers in both direction, as traffic backs up on these routes.
Want to know more or double-check the latest traffic updates? Check out the current timetable here.
And remember, it's no vacation if you're stuck in gridlock! So, pack some patience and good tunes to keep the road vibe groovy during your trip. Safe travels, mate!
With summer's arrival and school holidays approaching, people might find it challenging to maintain a laid-back, enjoyable lifestyle due to travel-induced traffic congestions on Swiss roads, particularly in hotspots like the A2 and regions such as Zurich, Bern, Basel, Lucerne, and Lugano. Plan your journey wisely to avoid the listed motorways or main roads for a stress-free drive, as gridlock can quickly dampen the spirits of even the most avid travelers.
