Gotthard Tunnel Easter Traffic: Massive Jams and Travel Alerts

The Gotthard road tunnel experienced severe traffic congestion on 2 April and 3 April 2026, as a surge of Easter holiday travelers headed toward Ticino and Italy. On 2 April, queues in front of the tunnel reached 15 kilometres, with waiting times exceeding two-and-a-half hours during peak periods.

Traffic conditions remained strained into 3 April. According to reporting from Swissinfo, congestion peaked at 2:20 pm on 3 April with a 15-kilometre queue, which later eased to 13 kilometres by 6:00 pm. Other reports indicated that some motorists faced significantly longer delays, with some wait times reaching 7.5 hours.

Traffic Management and Alternative Routes

The Touring Club of Switzerland (TCS) issued continuous alerts to motorists during the getaway. To mitigate the bottlenecks, the TCS urged drivers to depart before dawn or seek alternative routes, such as detouring via San Bernardino. Travelers were also encouraged to utilize car-train shuttles through the Simplon and Lötschberg tunnels.

In the canton of Uri, authorities activated specific traffic-management measures to prevent gridlock within local villages. These actions included the implementation of lane controls and the temporary closure of feeder roads.

Further limiting road options, the Amsteg–Wassen mountain road is scheduled for full closure in the afternoons from 4 April to 7 April 2026 due to an elevated risk of avalanches.

Rail Capacity and Tourism Impact

Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) responded to the road congestion by increasing rail capacity between Ticino and German-speaking Switzerland. The operator added 27 special long-distance trains, providing more than 70,000 additional seats for travelers.

The surge in travel has impacted the hospitality sector in southern Switzerland. Hotels in Locarno and Lugano reported occupancy rates nearing 70 percent. This demand was driven partly by travelers avoiding air routes that have been affected by diversions in the Middle East.

Logistics and Contributing Factors

The congestion has created challenges for logistics operators and cross-border commuters moving goods between Italy, Switzerland, and Germany. These delays have resulted in late deliveries and increased costs for drivers.

Analysts note that this year’s congestion was aggravated by several factors, including favorable weather forecasts and pent-up demand following a winter period of rail engineering works.

Mobility managers have been advised to monitor live TCS feeds and consider rerouting freight via the Lötschberg–Simplon corridor or utilizing nighttime time slots to avoid the holiday bottlenecks.