Swiss Motorway Driving: Shocking Stats
- Switzerland's roads are becoming increasingly congested, new data shows.
- The Federal Roads Office (ASTRA) released a report June 17 indicating that while motorways comprise only about 3% of the country’s road network, they account for more than...
- Zurich and the A1 motorway, along with the Gotthard Tunnel road, are notorious for heavy traffic, especially during holidays.
Swiss motorways are facing a crisis, with traffic jams worsening across the nation.The Federal Roads Office reports that thes roadways, comprising only a small fraction of the network, account for over 40% of congestion. Motorists are experiencing increased delays with passenger cars contributing to the growing problem. Zurich and major transit routes are especially impacted. ASTRA is implementing bright systems to alleviate traffic flow. Furthermore, the closure of the ‘Rolling Motorway’ could lead to increased truck traffic, intensifying the current issues. News Directory 3 offers insights into the escalating situation.Dive into the stats and see what measures are being taken to try and address the traffic. Discover what’s next …
Swiss Traffic Jams Explode: Motorway Congestion Worsens
Updated June 18, 2025
Switzerland’s roads are becoming increasingly congested, new data shows. In 2024, motorists traveled nearly 30 billion kilometers on Swiss motorways, with passenger cars accounting for 25 billion kilometers, a 0.6% increase from the previous year.
The Federal Roads Office (ASTRA) released a report June 17 indicating that while motorways comprise only about 3% of the country’s road network, they account for more than 40% of all traffic jams. ASTRA noted that roughly 87% of these jams stem from traffic congestion, with only 4% due to construction.Commuter regions near major urban centers and transit routes are especially affected.
Zurich and the A1 motorway, along with the Gotthard Tunnel road, are notorious for heavy traffic, especially during holidays. Bottlenecks are also common on the A2 motorway connecting Basel and Chiasso.
To combat the growing traffic congestion, ASTRA is planning “targeted measures based on network maintenance and traffic management using intelligent systems.” these systems, already implemented between Bern-Wankdorf and muri as August 2024, allow for speed adjustments and temporary opening of the hard shoulder. ASTRA says these measures contribute to better infrastructure use, improved road safety, and smoother traffic flow.
The opening of the third tube in the Gubrist Tunnel, northwest of Zurich on the A1, has already reduced traffic jam hours toward Bern from about 1,400 in 2023 to around 150 in 2024, according to ASTRA.
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich is reviewing planned road and rail projects for the Federal Transport Office. The results, expected in the third quarter of 2025, will inform future transport policy decisions.
What’s next
Despite these efforts,traffic in Switzerland may increase. The planned closure of RAlpin in 2026, a company that transported up to 80,000 trucks per year by rail through the Swiss Alps, will likely result in more trucks on Swiss roads, possibly increasing both traffic and pollution.