Easter weekend brings traffic standstill at Gotthard Tunnel; a 4-km jam signals a busy travel season.

Easter traffic is causing a 4-kilometer traffic jam on the A2 freeway in front of the Gotthard north portal on Friday morning. Drivers had to reckon with a time loss of up to 40 minutes, as the Touring Club Switzerland (TCS) reported on X.

The Easter holidays attracted many people to the south again this year. According to TCS, the reason for the traffic jam between Amsteg and Göschenen in the canton of Uri was congestion.

In the run-up to Easter, the Federal Roads Office (Astra) had advised against leaving the highway during traffic jams. The diversionary traffic puts a strain on the population in villages along the national roads. It also increases the risk of accidents.

The weather forecast did not seem to dampen the joy of traveling. According to SRF Meteo, some heavy rain will start in Ticino on Good Friday and, apart from a few brief interruptions, will continue until Easter Monday.

©Keystone/SDA