What nights does the A8 between Varese and Gallarate close in September 2026?

Night closures are scheduled for three consecutive nights: Wednesday 9, Thursday 10 and Friday 11 September 2026, from 21:00 to 5:00. The closure concerns the section between the connection with the D08 Gallarate-Gattico and Castronno branches, in the direction of Varese.

What junctions are closed at the entrance during the works?

During the three nights of work, the Cavaria and Solbiate Arno junctions are closed at the entrance, in both directions (Varese and Milan). The entry branch on the A8 towards Varese is also closed for those coming from the D08 Gallarate-Gattico branch and from the A26 Genova Voltri-Gravellona Toce.

What are the alternative routes for heavy goods vehicles over 3.5 tons?

Vehicles over 3.5 tons must follow a dedicated route because the underpass in the Municipality of Albizzate is not accessible by heavy vehicles. The route includes the exit at Gallarate (or Besnate if you have already passed Gallarate), SS341 towards Cavaria/Solbiate Arno Albizzate, via De Gasperi, via Carabelli, via XXV Aprile, SS341 towards Castronno and return to the A8 at the Castronno junction.

Why are work on noise barriers concentrated at night?

The nighttime closures, between 9:00 PM and 5:00 AM, are planned to limit the impact on daytime commuter traffic, which is very heavy on the A8 Milan-Varese motorway. However, there will still be an impact on late-night travelers, such as truck drivers, evening shift workers, and late-night commuters.

Where can I return to the A8 if I have to go to Milan starting from Cavaria or Solbiate Arno?

For the Milan direction, the recommended alternative junction is that of Gallarate, on the same A8. For the Varese direction we recommend Castronno, while for the D08 Gallarate-Gattico branch we recommend Besnate, on the D08.

A8 Varese-Gallarate: closures for 3 nights (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 7 September 2026

A8 highway night works between Varese and Gallarate

Night closures A8 from 9 to 11 September 2026, 21-5, for work on the noise barriers between Gallarate-Gattico and Castronno Branch.

Context

In short


Three nights of closure on the A8 Milan-Varese motorway towards Varese

Work on noise barriers from September 9 to 11, 2026

Closing times: 9:00 PM
5:00 AM

Cavaria and Solbiate Arno junctions closed for entry

Key Facts


What: Night closure of the A8 section and junctions for noise barrier works

When: Wednesday 9th, Thursday 10th, and Friday 11th September 2026, 9:00 PM
5:00 AM

Where: A8 Milan-Varese, section between the D08 Gallarate-Gattico branch and Castronno, towards Varese

Who: motorway operators (not specified in the source)

Amount: not specified

Closed section: from Gallarate-Gattico branch to Castronno, towards Varese

Closed junctions: Cavaria and Solbiate Arno inbound, both directions

Vehicles involved: light vehicles under 3.5 tons and heavy vehicles over 3.5 tons (different routes)

 Another round of nighttime closures on the A8 Milan-Varese motorway due to noise barrier upgrades. Restrictions are in place for the three nights of Wednesday, September 9th, Thursday, September 10th, and Friday, September 11th, 2026, from 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM, in the Varese direction.

Closed section and affected junctions



The section between the junction with the D08 Gallarate-Gattico branch and Castronno, in the direction of Varese, will be closed. The Cavaria and Solbiate Arno junctions will be closed for entry in both directions, Varese and Milan. At the same time, the D08 branch will be closed.

Operational details

The work on the noise barriers along the A8 Milan-Varese motorway affects one of the busiest arteries used by commuters who return every evening from the Milan direction towards Varese and the upper Varese area. The decision to concentrate the works during nighttime hours, between 9:00 PM and 5:00 AM, aims to limit the impact on commuter traffic, but it does not eliminate the inconvenience for those travelling in that time slot, such as truck drivers, evening shift workers, and cross-border commuters returning late.

Why these closures matter for local mobility

The A8 Milan-Varese is not just an internal Lombardy motorway section: it is the direct connection between the Varese network and the A8/A9 that continues towards the Swiss border. Vehicles coming from the Gallarate-Gattico spur (D08) and from the A26 Genova Voltri-Gravellona Toce, heading towards Varese, will find the entry ramp towards Varese closed for three nights. Those who travel this stretch daily know that the mandatory detours onto the ordinary road network — SP49, SP26, SS341 — extend travel times by twenty to thirty minutes during the evening rush hours.

The differentiation of routes between light and heavy vehicles is not a technical detail: it reflects a physical constraint, the Albizzate underpass which cannot be used by vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, which forces trucks onto a more complex route, passing through via De Gasperi, via Carabelli, and via XXV Aprile, urban streets that require greater attention and longer travel times.

…

Key points

For those traveling on the A8 Milan-Varese motorway during the nights between Wednesday 9 and Friday 11 September 2026, here is what to do concretely.

Procedure for light vehicles (under 3.5 tonnes)

Step 1: identify your point of origin. Those coming from the A8 towards Varese who have already passed the Gallarate exit must continue mandatorily onto the D08 Gallarate-Gattico spur, exiting at Besnate at km 4+000.

Step 2: travel on ordinary roads: SP49, SP26 towards Jerago con Orago/Solbiate Arno, SS341 towards Albizzate/Castronno.

Step 3: re-enter the A8 at the Castronno junction, towards Varese.

Those who exit earlier at Gallarate must instead follow the SP341 towards Cavaria/Solbiate Arno/Albizzate/Castronno and re-enter at Castronno.

Procedure for heavy vehicles (over 3.5 tonnes)

Step 1: due to the underpass in the municipality of Albizzate being impassable, heavy vehicles must follow the alternative route even when they would already be on the light-vehicle path.

Step 2: exit at Gallarate (or at Besnate if Gallarate has already been passed), travel along SS341 towards Cavaria/Solbiate Arno/Albizzate, via De Gasperi, via Carabelli, via XXV Aprile, SS341 towards Castronno.

Step 3: re-enter the A8 at the Castronno junction.

Closures of the Cavaria and Solbiate Arno junctions

For those who need to enter the motorway from Cavaria or Solbiate Arno:

towards Varese: use the Castronno junction on the same A8;
towards Milan: use the Gallarate junction on the same A8;
towards the D08 Gallarate-Gattico spur: use the Besnate junction on the D08.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What nights does the A8 between Varese and Gallarate close in September 2026?: Night closures are scheduled for three consecutive nights: Wednesday 9, Thursday 10 and Friday 11 September 2026, from 21:00 to 5:00. The closure concerns the section between the connection with the D08 Gallarate-Gattico and Castronno branches, in the direction of Varese.
What junctions are closed at the entrance during the works?: During the three nights of work, the Cavaria and Solbiate Arno junctions are closed at the entrance, in both directions (Varese and Milan). The entry branch on the A8 towards Varese is also closed for those coming from the D08 Gallarate-Gattico branch and from the A26 Genova Voltri-Gravellona Toce.
What are the alternative routes for heavy goods vehicles over 3.5 tons?: Vehicles over 3.5 tons must follow a dedicated route because the underpass in the Municipality of Albizzate is not accessible by heavy vehicles. The route includes the exit at Gallarate (or Besnate if you have already passed Gallarate), SS341 towards Cavaria/Solbiate Arno Albizzate, via De Gasperi, via Carabelli, via XXV Aprile, SS341 towards Castronno and return to the A8 at the Castronno junction.
Why are work on noise barriers concentrated at night?: The nighttime closures, between 9:00 PM and 5:00 AM, are planned to limit the impact on daytime commuter traffic, which is very heavy on the A8 Milan-Varese motorway. However, there will still be an impact on late-night travelers, such as truck drivers, evening shift workers, and late-night commuters.
Where can I return to the A8 if I have to go to Milan starting from Cavaria or Solbiate Arno?: For the Milan direction, the recommended alternative junction is that of Gallarate, on the same A8. For the Varese direction we recommend Castronno, while for the D08 Gallarate-Gattico branch we recommend Besnate, on the D08.