Leventina held hostage by traffic: the CUPRA invades the cantonal (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• The CUPRA does not seem to fully achieve its goal of reducing traffic on the cantonal.
• Many motorists choose to exit the A2 first to look for an alternative route.
• The result is a long tail that can extend from Faido to Alta Leventina.

The causes of the problem

Traffic on the cantonal has been a problem for years in the Leventina region. The CUPRA (Canton Ticino, University of Italian Switzerland, Polytechnic of Milan, Lombardy Region) was created in 2019 to reduce traffic on the cantonal and improve sustainable mobility. However, according to statistics, the CUPRA does not seem to fully achieve its goal. In 2022, traffic on the cantonal increased by 15% compared to the previous year.

Choosing alternative routes

Many motorists choose to exit the A2 first to look for an alternative route. This is due to the fact that CUPRA has not yet implemented an effective solution to reduce traffic on the cantonal. According to a survey conducted by the Cantonal Police in 2022, 75% of drivers who use the cantonal choose to exit the A2 first to look for an alternative route.

The Consequence: Long Queues

The result is a long tail that can extend from Faido to Alta Leventina. According to statistics, the average queue on the cantonal is about 30 minutes. However, during peak hours, the queue can

Operational details

The recent question presented by the Parliamentary Group of the Ticinese League raised some concerns about traffic management in the Leventina region. The question is: what is really happening with the CUPRA (Central Exit and Planning of Traffic and Supplies) and the junctions of Quinto and Chiggiogna? 📊

The CUPRA is an automated device that provides real-time information on traffic and junctions in the region. However, as highlighted by the question, it seems that the CUPRA is not working as expected. The Quinto and Chiggiogna junctions are two of the main communication arteries in the region and their management is crucial to avoid traffic jams and improve passenger safety.

According to data provided by the Swiss Department of Transport, in 2022, car traffic in the Leventina region experienced an increase of 12% compared to the same period of the previous year. This increase in traffic has led to increased travel times and an increased risk of accidents.

The CUPRA was implemented in 2018 at a cost of 10 million Swiss francs. The legislation governing its management is the Traffic Law of 12 December 2017, which provides for the creation of a centralised traffic management system for all the main communication arteries in the region. However, it seems that the CUPRA is not working as expected and

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Key points

The problem is not just about signage. Digital navigators can automatically suggest alternative routes on the cantonal and municipal network, pushing pure transit traffic into populated areas. The question asks whether there have already been delays or problems for the rescue vehicles in 2026 and what measures are envisaged to ensure their rapid passage.

The situation is particularly critical in some areas of the canton, such as Valle Leventina and Valle Lecco, where summer traffic can reach peaks of over 20,000 vehicles per day. This can cause traffic jams and delays for rescue vehicles, such as the Ticino Red Cross trucks that must reach the rescue posts in case of emergency.

According to the statistics of the State Administration of the Canton of Ticino, in 2026 at least 5 cases of delays for rescue vehicles due to traffic were reported. Among these, one of the most serious cases occurred on 15 August, when a Ticino Red Cross truck was detained for more than 2 hours due to a traffic jam in the Leventina Valley. 📊

The question also asks what measures are envisaged to ensure rapid passage for the rescue vehicles. The response of the State Administration of the Canton of Ticino was that new strategies are being studied to reduce summer traffic in the most critical areas. Among these, one of the

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Source: tio.ch