Traffic lights in Cadenazzo and traffic: effects expected in 2027 (cross-border guide)

Context

In brief

• Active traffic lights in Cadenazzo for traffic
• Clear effectiveness only by the end of 2027
• Interpellation by Gianini and Marchesi
• Constant monitoring by Ustra along the route

Key facts

What: Installation of traffic light systems Where: Route between Bellinzona and Locarno up to Quartino Who: Federal Council, Ustra, Simone Gianini, Piero Marchesi When: Effectiveness expected by the end of 2027

The Federal Council has responded to the written questions submitted by National Councillors Simone Gianini and Piero Marchesi regarding the traffic situation between Bellinzona and Locarno. The complaints from many motorists and cross-border commuters concerned the worsening of traffic conditions, characterized by increased queues and longer travel times. This situation emerged following the recent commissioning of the first traffic lights in Cadenazzo, which are part of the broader project by the Federal Roads Office aimed at equipping the entire route up to Quartino with traffic lights.

The Federal Council's response

In its official response, the federal government explained that, since the activation of the first systems occurred only recently, it is currently not yet possible to carry out a comprehensive and definitive assessment. However, the executive reiterated that the traffic light system will be constantly monitored until the completion of the works scheduled for 2027. Only then, according to institutional estimates, will the effectiveness of the measure become clearly evident. In the meantime, this continuous monitoring should allow the infrastructure's response capacity to be adjusted to real road conditions, thereby progressively improving traffic flow along the road axis affected by the interventions.

Operational details

The motivations of Ustra and the road context

Despite the initial inconvenience perceived by road users, the Federal Roads Office still considers it necessary to adopt immediate measures to improve traffic flow while waiting for the future A2-A13 motorway connection between Bellinzona and Locarno to be built. However, this strategic work runs the real risk of suffering a further postponement towards the 2050s, both due to the maturity of the project compared to other competing works and for financial reasons. For motorists and those who daily use these arterial roads for work reasons, the transition phase therefore promises to still be long and complex, requiring careful management of travel times and constant attention to updates on regional mobility in Canton Ticino.

The parliamentarians' requests for clarification

Alongside the response received from the government, National Councillor Simone Gianini, who also holds the role of central president of the Swiss Automobile Club, has submitted a targeted interpellance to obtain more precise and timely answers on the current traffic situation. Among the various points raised are the request for concrete data regarding queues and travel times compared to the previous period, the verification of a possible reassessment of traffic light synchronization, and the introduction of any countermeasures to facilitate fluidity during rush hours. Particular attention was also paid to the obligation to turn right for vehicles coming from Stradonino, a measure which according to some users could excessively penalize those coming from the municipalities and districts on the right bank and heading towards the motorway or the shopping centers of Sant'Antonino.

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Key points

Perspectives and daily management of travel

The management of mobility in Ticino requires constant monitoring by those who move daily for professional reasons, taking into account construction sites and ongoing infrastructure projects. For those who regularly cross the areas affected by road works and new traffic light systems, planning their movements and consulting traffic updates is now an essential necessity to reduce the inconvenience related to travel times. Pending further institutional clarifications and the more detailed answers that the Federal Council will provide in the coming weeks regarding the deposited parliamentary act, road users continue to face a complex transition phase, in which prior communication and transparency on traffic data remain fundamental elements to mitigate the frustration of those who live and work daily on the territory.

Tools and resources for commuters

To better address every aspect related to mobility, travel costs and the management of your work activity between Italy and Switzerland, it is always useful to rely on the dedicated calculation tools available online. You can check your financial expectations now and plan your financial management using the official calcolatore fiscale on our portal.

Source: laregione.ch