What is the queue record at the Gotthard during the summer?

The record dates back to July 2009, when the tail reached 24 kilometers. The cause was a snowfall on the Gotthard Pass that slowed traffic on the road. In 2026, the July 18, 20-km peak ranks second in length in the last few decades of available data.

How has traffic changed between 2025 and 2026?

At the north portal (southbound traffic), summer 2026 was less congested: 8 days with queues longer than 10 km, compared to 11 days in 2025. At the south portal (return to the north), the peak went from 13 km in 2025 to 11 km in 2026. However, the single most critical event of 2026 (20 km on 18 July) remains impactful.

What are the exact dates of the night closures?

Closures start on September 7 (hours 22:00–05:00). From 14 September the hours change to 20:00–05:00. The calendar continues until October 7th with a total of 18 nights of closure. All closures are Monday-Friday; Saturdays and Sundays remain open.

How do I plan my trip during closures?

If you finish work between 17:30-18:00 and transit after 19:00, you risk closing from 14 September onwards (hours 20:00-05:00). You can shorten the day, postpone your return after 05:00, or use alternative routes (Lukmanier, Gotthard Pass road). Communicate with the employer for any flexible arrangements.

Was 2026 a “good” summer for traffic on the Gotthard?

Relatively yes to the north portal: fewer critical days (8 vs 11). However, the 20 km peak remains significant. Those who travel regularly know that even a single Saturday of 20 km generates stress and additional costs of fuel and time.

The longest queue at the Gotthard in the last 4 years

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 26 August 2026

San Gottardo highway tunnel with heavy summer traffic through the Swiss Alps

On July 18, 2026, the peak of 20 km of tail is reached towards the south. Implications for border workers and full schedule of night closures September-October.

Context

TL;DR

20 km of queue on 18 July 2026: the longest since 2022
North portal: 8 days with queues >10 km (vs 11 in 2025)
Night closures from 7 September to 7 October

Key facts

What: Maximum queue at the Gotthard in the summer season
When: Saturday 18 July 2026
Where: San Gottardo motorway tunnel, north portal
Who: Cross-border commuters and Ticino-Italy commuters
Length: 20 kilometers
Comparison: Not reached by 2022

On 18 July, a Saturday in the middle of the summer season, the Gotthard motorway tunnel experienced a 20 kilometer queue towards the south. It is the longest peak since 2022, when the same length was reached at the end of July. For those who regularly travel that crossing between Ticino and northern Italy, it means an additional wait of 40-60 minutes beyond the average transit time.

The hot summer of 2026 did not discourage tourist migration south. During July and August, the Alpine Tunnel was among the busiest cross-border corridors in Central Europe, with recurring queues every weekend. Overall in the summer, however, the north portal recorded less critical situations compared to 2025: eight days with queues exceeding 10 kilometers compared to eleven the previous year. This indicates that the distribution of flows was slightly better, although the single event of 18 July remains impactful.

The historical context of the spikes

Queues of 20 kilometers had also occurred at the end of July 2022 and in July 1998. More serious in July 2009, when the queue reached 24 kilometers - at that time the cause was a snowfall on the St. Gotthard Pass which slowed down traffic on the road of the same name. Considering the official summer records, 2026 takes second place: 20 km is solid, but does not surpass the 24 km of seventeen years ago.

At the southern portal, intended for traffic returning north, conditions were more fluid. The maximum queue reached 11 kilometers on August 7, followed by 10 kilometers on August 8 — the busiest return weekend of the season. Comparison with 2025: The southern peak was then 13 km, so 2026 marks an improvement of 2 km.

Operational details

Traffic down in the north, but still significant waiting on critical days

Although the number of critical days has decreased at the north portal (8 days vs 11 in 2025), we cannot speak of a "smooth" summer for the cross-border commuter who regularly passes the Gotthard. On a single Saturday, the 20km queue created situations of considerable stress. If the cross-border commuter travels from Monday to Friday for work reasons, he may not have encountered the July 18 peak — but this does not guarantee a green light on other summer Saturdays.

At the southern portal the picture is positive: the improvement of 2 km from the maximum peak (13 km in 2025 → 11 km in 2026) reflects a better temporal distribution of the return. Those returning from south to north, especially on Sunday evening or Monday morning, enjoyed slightly less congested conditions than last year. This happens because the return traffic is distributed over a wider period of time than the descending flow, concentrated on the weekend.

Practical implications: where and when traffic is concentrated

For the Ticino-Italy commuter, the data suggests concrete strategies:

If you work in Switzerland and live in Italy: Summer 2026 at the North Portal was less critical on average, but Saturdays and Sundays remain risky — especially in July. Leave very early (before 7am) or consider late evening travel (after 9pm) on weekends.

If you work in Italy and live in Ticino: the evening or Sunday return is less congested than in 2025. However, Monday morning remains a concentrated time of traffic.

Fuel cost in queues: stops in queues increase consumption and wear. The costi auto pendolare calculator helps quantify the economic impact of recurring waits - an often underestimated element in the cross-border commuter's budget. If you waste 45 minutes a week in queues, multiplied by fuel and maintenance, the figure becomes significant.

Consult traffic in real time

Before leaving on critical days (Saturday July-August), consult the storico traffico ai valichi. Planning 10 minutes in advance can mean avoiding an hour of waiting.

Useful tools for your case

To conveniently check your scenario within/beyond 20 km, use the calcolatore stipendio netto and guida dichiarazione redditi.

Key points

Night closures September-October: the operational calendar

Starting in September, the Gotthard will experience a cycle of night-time closures for maintenance work. Cross-border workers and commuters traveling in the evening or at night must plan differently. The closures do not concern weekends (Saturday-Sunday), but impact midweek transit.

Complete closure calendar:

Table 1: Period
Period	Nights	Closing times	Days
7–11 September	4	10pm–5am	Mon-Fri
14–18 September	4	8pm–5am	Mon-Fri
September 21–25	4	8pm–5am	Mon-Fri
28 Sep – 2 Oct	4	8pm–5am	Mon-Fri
October 5–7	2	8pm–5am	Mon-Wed

Total: 18 nights of night closure spread over 6 weeks.

What changes at critical times

The first week (7–11 September) closes at 10pm, still allowing evening transit. From 14 September the times will change to 8pm - a critical element for those who finish work at 5.30pm-6pm and cross the Gotthard at around 7pm. The margin narrows 40 minutes before closing; delayed traffic or accidents could block transit.

Concrete actions for cross-border workers

1. Download the calendar and enter the data into your phone or digital calendar. Setting reminders for Monday 14 September (time change) is essential.

2. Consider your return time: if you finish after 6.30pm, have two options:

Shorten the working day on critical days (agreement with the employer)
Postpone the return until after 05:00 (night in Switzerland)

3. Alternative routes: if the time is critical, consider the secondary road of the San Gottardo Pass or Lukmanier. Longer, but still passable if the tunnel is closed.

4. Information to the employer: communicate the closures to the boss. Smart working or hourly flexibility could be compromised: consider negotiating reduced hours in September.

Additional costs to be expected

If the closures force you to sleep in hotels or increase the kilometers with alternative routes, it will impact the monthly border budget. Use the calcolatore stipendio netto to check whether the CHF gain really offsets the increased logistics costs. Frontiere Ticino also offers guide al costo della vita which include mobility and infrastructure.

Planning ahead = less stress next fall.

Source: ticinonews.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the queue record at the Gotthard during the summer?: The record dates back to July 2009, when the tail reached 24 kilometers. The cause was a snowfall on the Gotthard Pass that slowed traffic on the road. In 2026, the July 18, 20-km peak ranks second in length in the last few decades of available data.
How has traffic changed between 2025 and 2026?: At the north portal (southbound traffic), summer 2026 was less congested: 8 days with queues longer than 10 km, compared to 11 days in 2025. At the south portal (return to the north), the peak went from 13 km in 2025 to 11 km in 2026. However, the single most critical event of 2026 (20 km on 18 July) remains impactful.
What are the exact dates of the night closures?: Closures start on September 7 (hours 22:00–05:00). From 14 September the hours change to 20:00–05:00. The calendar continues until October 7th with a total of 18 nights of closure. All closures are Monday-Friday; Saturdays and Sundays remain open.
How do I plan my trip during closures?: If you finish work between 17:30-18:00 and transit after 19:00, you risk closing from 14 September onwards (hours 20:00-05:00). You can shorten the day, postpone your return after 05:00, or use alternative routes (Lukmanier, Gotthard Pass road). Communicate with the employer for any flexible arrangements.
Was 2026 a “good” summer for traffic on the Gotthard?: Relatively yes to the north portal: fewer critical days (8 vs 11). However, the 20 km peak remains significant. Those who travel regularly know that even a single Saturday of 20 km generates stress and additional costs of fuel and time.