Gotthard tunnel northbound: queues at the south portal

Heading north, the Gotthard queue builds up on the A2 in the Leventina valley, on the approach to the south portal at Airolo. It starts at the Airolo metering point and reaches back to Quinto when it is short and to Faido when it is long. How long it is right now and how much time you will lose is shown in the live summary below, updated every 5 minutes from the traffic reports of the Swiss Federal Roads Office (FEDRO).

Live traffic situation · Airolo south portal webcam

What is the northbound situation right now?

The second part of the live summary covers northbound traffic, i.e. traffic from Bellinzona heading for the south portal. “Traffic flowing freely” means FEDRO is reporting no hold-ups on the approach. “Slow-moving traffic” means an obstruction has been reported without a queue length. If there is a queue, you see the longest reported queue length and the delay, i.e. the waiting time at the portal. On the home page, the tunnel profile shows the section and the trend shows how things have developed over the last few hours.

The waiting time applies to the moment of the report. On the return journey the queue typically keeps growing in the afternoon, so by the time you arrive it may take longer than shown.

Where does the queue form on the approach to Airolo?

FEDRO reports the northbound queue on the A2 “Chiasso → Gotthard” up to the “Airolo metering point car park” or up to the Airolo junction. Stauportal groups the reports into two sections:

Quinto–Airolo: reports that start at Quinto. This is the usual queue in front of the metering point.

Faido–Quinto: reports that start at Faido or further south, plus obstructions caused by roadworks between Faido and Quinto. This section also picks up reports about the cantonal road between Faido and Airolo, which FEDRO issues as a traffic obstruction with a long delay.

The northbound figure always uses the longest reported queue across both sections. Reports about the tunnel itself, such as a closure, count for both directions.

Why is traffic metered at Airolo?

The same rules apply as at the north portal: no more than 1,000 passenger car units per hour in each direction may enter the tunnel, and a lorry counts as three. When more vehicles arrive, the drip-feed system automatically switches to metering and releases them in batches at the traffic lights. FEDRO calls a half-hour wait “safety time” and only speaks of a queue caused by traffic overload once the wait reaches two hours.

For lorries, Ticino has had the Giornico heavy vehicle control centre since December 2022, which according to FEDRO complements the Ripshausen centre in Uri. Why the number of vehicles is limited: Gotthard road tunnel.

What is the CUPRA lane near Airolo?

CUPRA (Corsia d’Uscita PReferenziale Airolo/Passi) is FEDRO’s special lane for Airolo and the passes. When traffic queues towards the tunnel, the hard shoulder from the Quinto junction becomes an extra lane that runs past the queue to the Airolo exit and to the pass roads over the Gotthard and the Nufenen. It is about 9 kilometres long and bypasses the Stalvedro service area. It has been in permanent operation since 13 May 2026 and is only opened when the Gotthard Pass road is open.

Illuminated signs along the route show whether the lane is open. It only serves Airolo and the passes: from the special lane you cannot get back onto the motorway or into the tunnel. According to FEDRO, the operators of the traffic management centre in Emmenbrücke decide whether to open it, together with the Ticino cantonal police.

Can I take the cantonal road instead?

The special lane is designed to prevent exactly that. Leaving the motorway before Airolo puts extra traffic on the cantonal road through the villages of the upper Leventina. According to FEDRO, on days when the special lane was open, about half of those who would otherwise have taken the cantonal road stayed on the motorway. In 2022, the first summer of the provisional lane, 2,000 to 3,000 vehicles a day used it.

If you are heading for the tunnel, the cantonal road gives you no advantage, because you still have to pass through the metering. FEDRO generally asks drivers to stay on the motorway when there is a queue.

Which days see northbound queues?

Northbound queues build up on the return journey, when holidays and long weekends end. After Easter, according to FEDRO, the return wave sets in later in the day on Easter Sunday, and heavy return traffic is also expected on Easter Monday. In summer, according to the Touring Club Switzerland (TCS), the queues shift to the south portal in August, and they can stretch to just over ten kilometres. The TCS advises driving back in August between Monday and Thursday, early in the morning or late in the evening.

The typical return days up to summer 2027 are in the traffic forecast. More details: Ascension and Whitsun and summer holiday traffic.

What are the alternatives northbound?

Coming from the south, the San Bernardino route (A13) is the main alternative; the turn-off is at Bellinzona. On return days, however, there are queues there too. When the pass is open, the special lane leads to the Gotthard Pass road. The pros and cons: Avoiding the Gotthard; the closure nights: Gotthard closures. For the outward journey, see Queues at the north portal.

Northbound queue: frequently asked questions

How far back does the queue at Airolo reach?

The queue starts at the Airolo metering point. When it is short it reaches back to Quinto, when it is long to Faido. Stauportal always shows the longest reported queue for northbound traffic.

Can I use the CUPRA lane to get into the Gotthard tunnel?

No. The special lane only leads to the Airolo exit and the pass roads over the Gotthard and the Nufenen; from it you cannot get back onto the motorway or into the tunnel. It runs for about 9 kilometres on the hard shoulder from the Quinto junction and is only opened when the Gotthard Pass road is open.

Is it worth leaving the motorway before Airolo?

Not if you are heading for the tunnel: on the cantonal road you still have to pass through the metering, and you add traffic to the villages of the upper Leventina. FEDRO asks drivers to stay on the motorway when there is a queue.

When is the best time to drive back north through the Gotthard in August?

According to the TCS, the queues shift to the south portal in August. It advises driving back between Monday and Thursday, early in the morning or late in the evening.

Information provided without guarantee. Official information from FEDRO and the cantonal police always takes precedence.