The Gotthard Pass, one of the key routes linking northern and southern Switzerland, opened on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. The boom gate at Hospental was lifted at 11:00 a.m. with cars and national TV crews lined up for the seasonal opening. This year, a spectacular 8 meter (26 feet) snow wall lines the pass road.
The Gotthard Pass provides an alternative route for traffic to the heavily congested Gotthard road tunnel, one of the longest car tunnels in the world with a length of 17 km (11 miles). The pass road measures 24 km (15 miles) and reaches an altitude of 2,106 meters (6,909 feet) at its highest point.
The pass road between Hospental and Airolo will be open until the beginning of November, weather permitting. Typically, the pass road opens before the Pentacost long weekend, but snowmasses prevented a timely opening this year.
PHOTOS
