What is the main proposal of Avanti con Ticino&Lavoro?

The central proposal is the introduction of a border to border transit tax. The objective is to ensure that pure transit traffic contributes more to the costs and inconvenience it generates on the Ticino territory, which acts as a north-south European corridor.

Why is the incident in Mezzovico considered a critical event?

The accident paralyzed much of the Sottoceneri for hours. The closure of the motorway has poured an unsustainable amount of vehicles onto cantonal and municipal roads, highlighting the fragility of the Ticino road network, which cannot handle such emergency situations.

What do the high councillors ask of the Council of State?

They ask for precise data on the frequency of congestions greater than 10, 15 and 20 km in the last five years, the causes of the increase in the phenomenon and an update on emergency management plans and coordination between Canton, USTRA, Police and public transport.

A2 to Collapse: Transit Traffic Inquiry (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 9 August 2026

Heavy traffic on the A2 motorway in Ticino

After the accident in Mezzovico, Avanti con Ticino&Lavoro calls for concrete measures to limit the inconvenience of pure transit traffic on the Gotthard axis.

Context

In a nutshell

Accident in Mezzovico causes paralysis of the Sottoceneri.
Request the introduction of a border-to-boundary transit tax.
A review of the emergency management plans is necessary.

Key facts

What: Parliamentary question on traffic A2
When: August 8 (trigger event)
Where: A2, Mezzovico (TI)
Who: Giovanni Albertini, Amalia Mirante, Evaristo Roncelli (Forward with Ticino&Lavoro)
Problem: Fragility of the Ticino road network

The A2 motorway, a vital artery for the Canton of Ticino and for commuter flows to Switzerland, has returned to the center of the political debate after the serious traffic jams recorded on Saturday, August 8. As a result of an accident that occurred in the territory of Mezzovico, traffic suffered a paralysis that involved much of the Sottoceneri for hours, making the pressure on the secondary arteries unbearable. The representatives of Avanti con Ticino & Lavoro, Giovanni Albertini, Amalia Mirante and Evaristo Roncelli, presented a question to the Council of State to denounce what they define as a structural fragility of the road network that is no longer exceptional.

A road network under stress

The August event is not considered an isolated case, but the confirmation of a chronic problem related to the Gotthard axis. The closure of the motorway has caused an unsustainable amount of vehicles to pour onto cantonal and municipal roads, effectively blocking local mobility.

Operational details

The analysis proposed by Avanti with Ticino&Lavoro puts the emphasis on the need for a paradigm shift in the management of cross-border flows. The proposal to introduce a specific tax on transit from border to border aims to make the traffic of pure transit contribute more to the costs and inconveniences generated on the Ticino territory. This economic tool, if implemented, would be a strong signal from the Confederation, called to discuss new solutions to relieve the cantonal road network. In addition to the toll, the interrogation solicits the comparison on alternative measures, such as the restoration of rail solutions for the transport of cars, a theme already discussed in the past but which requires a new analysis in light of the growing congestion.

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Key points

The resolution of problems related to highway traffic requires a structured approach that integrates cantonal planning with federal directives. The parliamentary inquiry serves as a pressure tool to obtain official responses from the State Council on the coordination between USTRA, Police, and Municipalities. For border workers, emergency management is a critical aspect: when the highway is blocked, the timeliness of rescue vehicles and the fluidity of public transportation become priorities. The inquirers explicitly ask if the events of August 8th highlighted operational gaps that the Government considers necessary to intervene immediately to improve management protocols.

Source: tio.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main proposal of Avanti con Ticino&Lavoro?: The central proposal is the introduction of a border to border transit tax. The objective is to ensure that pure transit traffic contributes more to the costs and inconvenience it generates on the Ticino territory, which acts as a north-south European corridor.
Why is the incident in Mezzovico considered a critical event?: The accident paralyzed much of the Sottoceneri for hours. The closure of the motorway has poured an unsustainable amount of vehicles onto cantonal and municipal roads, highlighting the fragility of the Ticino road network, which cannot handle such emergency situations.
What do the high councillors ask of the Council of State?: They ask for precise data on the frequency of congestions greater than 10, 15 and 20 km in the last five years, the causes of the increase in the phenomenon and an update on emergency management plans and coordination between Canton, USTRA, Police and public transport.