Gotthard Tunnel Closes at Night: Here's the Schedule
Drivers traveling through Switzerland to Italy or northern Europe will need to adjust to nighttime works on one of Europe's most important transport routes.
Drivers traveling through Switzerland to Italy or northern Europe will need to adjust to nighttime works on one of Europe's most important transport routes.
Those driving through Switzerland these days toward Italy or back to northern Europe must take into account that the Gotthard Road Tunnel on the A2 motorway will be closed at night. The tunnel closes from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on several working nights in August, with seven nighttime closures remaining until the end of the month.
The first four closures have already been completed, and the current schedule covers the nights of August 18-19, 19-20, and 20-21, 2026. From Monday, August 24, to Friday, August 28, another closure period follows, with the tunnel closed for four consecutive nights, again between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Nights from Friday to Saturday, Saturday to Sunday, and Sunday to Monday are not included in the works to keep the tunnel open during the busiest weekend periods. The works are planned to take place at night when traffic is lighter and when Switzerland has a nighttime driving ban for some trucks.
The reason is not typical cleaning or asphalt laying, but preventive safety measures on the tunnel's intermediate ceiling structure. Monitoring systems have detected stresses in some sections, so measures are being taken to reduce the likelihood of future damage and unplanned closures. These works require a complete halt of traffic through the tunnel.
One option for those arriving at Gotthard after 11 p.m. is the road over the Gotthard Pass, which can be used as a detour during the summer months. Drivers must expect a mountain road, slower driving, and different conditions compared to the motorway through the tunnel.
Another significant option for longer journeys is the A13 motorway via San Bernardino. This route is particularly favorable for those who can adjust their trip early enough, but congestion can also occur there in summer during the tourist season.
Gotthard is already one of the biggest traffic bottlenecks in Switzerland. On the busiest summer days, queues in front of the tunnel can be very long, so a closure of several hours can further complicate the journey for those who haven't checked the schedule in advance.
The August works are not the last restrictions this year. Additional nighttime closures have already been announced for September and early October 2026 due to regular maintenance. For those traveling through Switzerland to or from Italy, it is advisable to check the current tunnel status before departure, especially if planning to pass late in the evening or at night.
