The A2 (the Gotthard Motorway) is a
motorway
A controlled-access highway is a type of highway that has been designed for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow—ingress and egress—regulated. Common English terms are freeway, motorway and expressway. Other similar terms i ...
in
Switzerland. It forms Switzerland's main north–south axis from
Basel
, french: link=no, Bâlois(e), it, Basilese
, neighboring_municipalities= Allschwil (BL), Hégenheim (FR-68), Binningen (BL), Birsfelden (BL), Bottmingen (BL), Huningue (FR-68), Münchenstein (BL), Muttenz (BL), Reinach (BL), Riehen (BS), ...
to
Chiasso
Chiasso (; lmo, Ciass ) is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.
As the southernmost of Switzerland's municipalities, Chiasso is on the border with Italy, in front of Ponte Chiasso (a frazione of C ...
, meandering with a slight drift toward the east. It lies on the
Gotthard axis and crosses the
Alps
The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Sw ...
. Opened in 1955 under the name "Road Lucerne-south", A2 is one of the busiest motorways in Switzerland.
The A2 motorway leaves
Basel
, french: link=no, Bâlois(e), it, Basilese
, neighboring_municipalities= Allschwil (BL), Hégenheim (FR-68), Binningen (BL), Birsfelden (BL), Bottmingen (BL), Huningue (FR-68), Münchenstein (BL), Muttenz (BL), Reinach (BL), Riehen (BS), ...
heading south toward
Olten,
Sursee
Sursee is a municipality in the district of Sursee in the canton of Lucerne, Switzerland. Sursee is located at the northern end of Lake Sempach, not far from where the ''Sure'' (or '' Suhre'') river exits the lake ("See"), hence the name "Sursee ...
,
Luzern
, neighboring_municipalities= Adligenswil, Ebikon, Emmen, Horw, Kriens, Malters, Meggen, Neuenkirch
Lucerne ( , ; High Alemannic: ''Lozärn'') or Luzern ()Other languages: gsw, Lozärn, label= Lucerne German; it, Lucerna ; rm, Lucerna . ...
,
Stans
Stans () is the capital of the canton of Nidwalden (Nidwald) in Switzerland.
The official language of Stans is German (spoken there in the variety of Swiss Standard German), but the main language is the local variant of Alemannic Swiss Germa ...
,
Altdorf,
Erstfeld,
Göschenen,
Airolo
Airolo (''Airöö'' in Lombard, in rm, italic=yes, ) is a municipality in the district of Leventina in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.
Geography
Airolo is located in Leventina valley and the Lepontine Alps, on the southern flank of the ...
,
Biasca
Biasca is a town of the district of Riviera in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.
History
Biasca is first mentioned in 830 as ''Aviasca'' in the ''Liber viventium'' of Pfäfers Abbey. In 1119 it was mentioned as ''Abiasca''.
Early history
I ...
,
Bellinzona
Bellinzona ( , , Ticinese ; french: Bellinzone ; german: Bellenz ; rm, Blizuna )is a municipality, a historic Swiss town, and the capital of the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. The town is famous for its three castles (Castelgrande, Montebello ...
,
Lugano and reaches
Chiasso
Chiasso (; lmo, Ciass ) is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.
As the southernmost of Switzerland's municipalities, Chiasso is on the border with Italy, in front of Ponte Chiasso (a frazione of C ...
. It intersects with the
A1,
A8,
A13 and
A14 motorways.
The
St. Gotthard Tunnel lies at the heart of the motorway and makes up its culminating point. With a maximum elevation of at the tunnel's highest point, the A2 motorway has the lowest maximum elevation of any direct north–south road through the Alps. Traffic jams stretching for kilometres on end are frequently found on both entrances of the tunnel, but more frequently on the northern flank. The difficulty with driving through the St. Gotthard tunnel is that it is a motorway tunnel with one lane per direction, but without a central reservation. So far, The Swiss government has decided to upgrade the second tunnel into a full road tunnel in order to allow for the necessary reconstruction of the first road tunnel. Once the works on the first tunnel are finished, the Swiss government plans to operate one single lane in each tunnel (northbound traffic in the newly constructed tunnel, southbound traffic in the renovated one) in order to maintain the current tunnel overall capacity, in compliance with the Swiss constitutional norm that forbids a further growth of the traffic capacity across the Alps.
The reconstruction would have lasted for several years in any variant – one variant would push the traffic over the mountain pass, another proposed to load the vehicles onto trains with a new terminal, a third would close the tunnel for several months every year over time range of a decade. All of these have their drawbacks and the usage of the second tunnel was chosen as the best option to allow for the reconstruction. Further usage of both tunnels was subject to a popular referendum that
was held in February 2016, where it was approved. The actual upgrade mining of the second road tunnel would last from 2020 to 2027 at a cost of 2.7 billion francs for the whole project including the following reconstruction of the first tunnel.
Near
Lucerne, this motorway passes through the
Sonnenberg Tunnel, which until recently was the world's largest nuclear
blast shelter
A blast shelter is a place where people can go to protect themselves from blasts and explosions, like those from bombs, or in hazardous worksites, such as on oil and gas refineries or petrochemical facilities. It differs from a fallout shelter, ...
.
List of Exits
Listed are exits heading south as of
Basel
, french: link=no, Bâlois(e), it, Basilese
, neighboring_municipalities= Allschwil (BL), Hégenheim (FR-68), Binningen (BL), Birsfelden (BL), Bottmingen (BL), Huningue (FR-68), Münchenstein (BL), Muttenz (BL), Reinach (BL), Riehen (BS), ...
Symbols: ↗ = exit (↘ = exit only; → = only when heading for
Chiasso
Chiasso (; lmo, Ciass ) is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.
As the southernmost of Switzerland's municipalities, Chiasso is on the border with Italy, in front of Ponte Chiasso (a frazione of C ...
; ← = only when heading for
Basel
, french: link=no, Bâlois(e), it, Basilese
, neighboring_municipalities= Allschwil (BL), Hégenheim (FR-68), Binningen (BL), Birsfelden (BL), Bottmingen (BL), Huningue (FR-68), Münchenstein (BL), Muttenz (BL), Reinach (BL), Riehen (BS), ...
); ⇆ = main interchange; S = service area
Canton of Basel-Stadt
Basel-Stadt or Basel-City (german: Kanton ; rm, Chantun Basilea-Citad; french: Canton de Bâle-Ville; it, Canton Basilea Città) is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of three municipalities with Basel as t ...
:''Border with
Germany (German
A 5)''
* ⇆ 1: ''(
Basel
, french: link=no, Bâlois(e), it, Basilese
, neighboring_municipalities= Allschwil (BL), Hégenheim (FR-68), Binningen (BL), Birsfelden (BL), Bottmingen (BL), Huningue (FR-68), Münchenstein (BL), Muttenz (BL), Reinach (BL), Riehen (BS), ...
Wiese interchange with motorway heading for
France)''
* ↗ 2: (←) Basel Bad Bahnhof
* ↗ 3: Basel Wettstein
* ↗ 4: Basel Breite,
Birsfelden
Birsfelden (Swiss German: ''Birsfälde'') is a municipality in the district of Arlesheim in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.
History
Birsfelden is first mentioned in 1274 as ''minor Rinvelden''. Around 1500 it was first mentioned as ...
* ↗ 5: Basel City
* ⇆ 6: ''(Hagnau interchange with
J18 (Switzerland))''
Zürich,
Delémont
* ↗ 7:
Pratteln
Pratteln (Swiss German: ''Brattele'') is a municipality in the canton of Basel-Landschaft in Switzerland, located in the district of Liestal.
History
Pratteln is first mentioned around 1102-03 as ''Bratello''.
Geography
Pratteln has an area, ...
,
Schweizerhalle,
Auhafen,
Augst
Augst (Swiss German: ''Augscht'') is a municipality in the district of Liestal in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland. It was known as Augusta Raurica in Roman times.
History
Augst is first mentioned in 615 as ''Augustodunensem praes ...
* S
Pratteln
Pratteln (Swiss German: ''Brattele'') is a municipality in the canton of Basel-Landschaft in Switzerland, located in the district of Liestal.
History
Pratteln is first mentioned around 1102-03 as ''Bratello''.
Geography
Pratteln has an area, ...
Canton of Basel Landschaft
* ↗ 8:
Liestal
* ↗ 9: ''(
Augst
Augst (Swiss German: ''Augscht'') is a municipality in the district of Liestal in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland. It was known as Augusta Raurica in Roman times.
History
Augst is first mentioned in 615 as ''Augustodunensem praes ...
interchange with
A3)''
* ↗ 10:
Arisdorf
Arisdorf is a municipality in the district of Liestal in the canton of Basel-Country in Switzerland.
History
Arisdorf is first mentioned in 1154 as ''Arnolstorf''.
Geography
Arisdorf has an area, , of . Of this area, or 56.3% is used for ag ...
* ↗ 11:
Sissach
Sissach () is a municipality and the capital of the district of Sissach in the canton of Basel-Country, Switzerland.
History
Sissach is first mentioned around 1225-26 as ''Sissaho''.
Geography
Sissach has an area, of . Of this area, (28.2%) ...
* ↗ 12:
Diegten
* ↗ 13: (←)
Eptingen
Canton of Solothurn
The canton of Solothurn or canton of Soleure (german: Kanton Solothurn rm, Chantun Soloturn french: Canton de Soleure; it, Canton Soletta) is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the northwest of Switzerland. The capital is Solothurn.
His ...
* ↗ 14:
Egerkingen
Egerkingen is a municipality in the district of Gäu in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland.
History
Egerkingen is first mentioned in 1201 as ''in Egrichen''. In 1212 it was mentioned as ''in Egerchingen''.
Geography
Egerkingen has an are ...
Canton of Aargau
Aargau, more formally the Canton of Aargau (german: Kanton Aargau; rm, Chantun Argovia; french: Canton d'Argovie; it, Canton Argovia), is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of eleven districts and its capita ...
* ⇆ 15: ''(
Härkingen interchange with
A1)''
* ↗ 16:
Rothrist
Rothrist is a municipality in the district of Zofingen in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.
History
Originally an Alamanni settlement, the modern village of Rothrist is first mentioned in 1263 as ''Routris''. The ''Herrschaft'' rights were ...
Canton of Lucerne
The canton of Lucerne (german: Kanton Luzern rm, Chantun Lucerna french: Canton de Lucerne it, Canton Lucerna) is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the centre of Switzerland. The population of the canton (as of ) is . , the population ...
* ⇆ 17: ''(
Wiggertal interchange with
A1)''
* ↗ 18:
Reiden
Reiden is a municipality in the district of Willisau in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. On January 1, 2006 the former municipalities of Langnau bei Reiden and Richenthal were united in the new municipality of Reiden.
Geography
Reiden ha ...
* ↗ 19:
Dagmersellen
Dagmersellen is a municipality in the district of Willisau in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.
On 1 January 2006, the former municipalities of Buchs and Uffikon were merged into Dagmersellen, causing a one-third increase in its population and ...
* ↗ 20:
Sursee
Sursee is a municipality in the district of Sursee in the canton of Lucerne, Switzerland. Sursee is located at the northern end of Lake Sempach, not far from where the ''Sure'' (or '' Suhre'') river exits the lake ("See"), hence the name "Sursee ...
* ↗ 21:
Sempach
Sempach is a municipality in the district of Sursee in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.
History
It has retained some traces of its medieval appearance, especially the main gateway, beneath a watch tower, and reached by a bridge over the ...
* ↗ 22:
Rothenburg (planned)
* ↗ 23:
Emmen, Switzerland Nord
* ⇆ 24: ''(
Rotsee
__NOTOC__
The Rotsee (previously known as Rootsee) is a natural rowing lake on the northern edge of Lucerne, Switzerland. It is regarded as one of the best rowing venues in the world.
Description and location
The lake and its surrounding area is ...
interchange with
A14)''
* ↗ 25: Emmen Süd
* ↗ 26: (→)
Luzern
, neighboring_municipalities= Adligenswil, Ebikon, Emmen, Horw, Kriens, Malters, Meggen, Neuenkirch
Lucerne ( , ; High Alemannic: ''Lozärn'') or Luzern ()Other languages: gsw, Lozärn, label= Lucerne German; it, Lucerna ; rm, Lucerna . ...
Zentrum
* ↗ 27:
Luzern
, neighboring_municipalities= Adligenswil, Ebikon, Emmen, Horw, Kriens, Malters, Meggen, Neuenkirch
Lucerne ( , ; High Alemannic: ''Lozärn'') or Luzern ()Other languages: gsw, Lozärn, label= Lucerne German; it, Lucerna ; rm, Lucerna . ...
-
Kriens
* ↗ 28:
Luzern
, neighboring_municipalities= Adligenswil, Ebikon, Emmen, Horw, Kriens, Malters, Meggen, Neuenkirch
Lucerne ( , ; High Alemannic: ''Lozärn'') or Luzern ()Other languages: gsw, Lozärn, label= Lucerne German; it, Lucerna ; rm, Lucerna . ...
-
Horw
Canton of Nidwalden
Nidwalden, also Nidwald (german: Kanton Nidwalden, ; rm, Chantun Sutsilvania; french: Canton de Nidwald; it, Canton Nidvaldo) is one of the 26 cantons forming the Swiss Confederation. It is composed of eleven municipalities and the seat of the ...
* ↗ 29: (→)
Hergiswil
* ↗ 30: (→) Lopper (planned)
* ↗ 29: (←) Hergiswil
* ↗ 31: (→)
Stansstad
Stansstad is a municipality in the canton of Nidwalden in Switzerland.
Geography
Stansstad has an area, (as of the 2004/09 survey) of . Of this area, about 32.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while 49.6% is forested. Of the rest of the la ...
* ↗ 32:
Stans
Stans () is the capital of the canton of Nidwalden (Nidwald) in Switzerland.
The official language of Stans is German (spoken there in the variety of Swiss Standard German), but the main language is the local variant of Alemannic Swiss Germa ...
Nord
* ↗ 33: Stans Süd
* ↗ 34:
Buochs
Buochs is a municipality in the canton of Nidwalden in Switzerland.
History
Buochs is first mentioned in 1124 as ''Boches''. In 1184, it was mentioned as ''Buoches'', then in 1210 as ''Buches'', and in 1229 as ''Buchs''.
Geography
Buochs has a ...
* ↗ 35:
Beckenried
Beckenried is a municipality in the canton of Nidwalden in Switzerland.
History
The first settlers in what would become Beckried were from Alamanni tribes that moved into the area over 2000 years ago.
Canton of Uri
The canton of Uri (german: Kanton Uri rm, Chantun Uri; french: Canton d'Uri; it, Canton Uri) is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and a founding member of the Swiss Confederation. It is located in Central Switzerland. The canton's territ ...
* ↗ 36:
Altdorf
* ↗ 37:
Erstfeld
* ↗ 38:
Amsteg
Silenen is a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland.
Geography
Silenen municipality comprises the villages of Silenen (divided into three parts, Dörfli, Russ, Rusli), Amsteg, and Acherli, besides numerous smaller hamlets or dispersed ...
* ↗ 39:
Wassen
Wassen is a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland.
Geography
, Wassen has an area of . Of this area, 12.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 18.2% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 1.1% is settled (buildings or roads) and ...
* ↗ 40:
Göschenen
Canton of Ticino
Ticino (), sometimes Tessin (), officially the Republic and Canton of Ticino or less formally the Canton of Ticino,, informally ''Canton Ticino'' ; lmo, Canton Tesin ; german: Kanton Tessin ; french: Canton du Tessin ; rm, Chantun dal Tessin . ...
* ↗ 41:
Airolo
Airolo (''Airöö'' in Lombard, in rm, italic=yes, ) is a municipality in the district of Leventina in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.
Geography
Airolo is located in Leventina valley and the Lepontine Alps, on the southern flank of the ...
* S
Stalvedro
* ↗ 42:
Quinto
* ↗ 43:
Faido
Faido is the capital of the district of Leventina in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino in southern Switzerland.
On 29 January 2006, Faido grew by incorporating the villages of Chiggiogna, Rossura, and Calonico.
On 1 April 2012, Faido gre ...
* ↗ 44:
Biasca
Biasca is a town of the district of Riviera in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.
History
Biasca is first mentioned in 830 as ''Aviasca'' in the ''Liber viventium'' of Pfäfers Abbey. In 1119 it was mentioned as ''Abiasca''.
Early history
I ...
* ⇆ 45: ''(Interchange with
A13 to
Chur
, neighboring_municipalities= Arosa, Churwalden, Tschiertschen-Praden, Domat/Ems, Felsberg, Malix, Trimmis, Untervaz, Pfäfers
, twintowns = Bad Homburg (Germany), Cabourg (France), Mayrhofen (Austria), Mondorf-les-Bains (Luxembour ...
)''
Bellinzona
Bellinzona ( , , Ticinese ; french: Bellinzone ; german: Bellenz ; rm, Blizuna )is a municipality, a historic Swiss town, and the capital of the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. The town is famous for its three castles (Castelgrande, Montebello ...
Nord
* S Bellinzona
* ↗ 46: Bellinzona Centro (planned)
* ⇆ 47: ''(Interchange with
A13 to
Locarno
, neighboring_municipalities= Ascona, Avegno, Cadenazzo, Cugnasco, Gerra (Verzasca), Gambarogno, Gordola, Lavertezzo, Losone, Minusio, Muralto, Orselina, Tegna, Tenero-Contra
, twintowns =* Gagra, Georgia
* Karlovy Vary, Czech Rep ...
)'' Bellinzona Sud
* ↗ 48:
Rivera
Rivera () is the capital of Rivera Department of Uruguay. The border with Brazil joins it with the Brazilian city of Santana do Livramento, which is only a street away from it, at the north end of Route 5. Together, they form an urban area of aro ...
* ↗ 49:
Lugano Nord
* ↗ 50: Lugano Sud
* ↗ 51:
Melide,
Bissone
Bissone is a municipality in the district of Lugano, in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.
History
Bissone is first mentioned in 735 and again in 854 as ''Blixuni''. In German it was known as ''Byssen'', though that name is no longer used.
In ...
,
Morcote
Morcote is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Ticino situated about 10 kilometres from Lugano in the district of Lugano on the shore of Lake Lugano.
History
Morcote is first mentioned historically in 926 as ''Murcau'', which comes from the ...
,
Campione d'Italia
Campione d'Italia (Comasco: , ) is a '' comune'' of the Province of Como in the Lombardy region of Italy and an enclave surrounded by the Swiss canton of Ticino (it is also an exclave). At its closest, the enclave is less than from the res ...
* ↗ 52:
Mendrisio
Mendrisio (; lmo, label= Ticinese, Mendris ) is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.
Mendrisio is the seat of the Accademia di Architettura of the university of Italian-speaking Switzerland (U ...
* S
Coldrerio
Coldrerio is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.
History
Coldrerio is first mentioned in 852 as ''Caledrano''. In 1170 it was mentioned as ''Calderario'', in 1185 as ''Caldirera'' and in 1187 as ' ...
* ↗ 53:
Chiasso
Chiasso (; lmo, Ciass ) is a municipality in the district of Mendrisio in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.
As the southernmost of Switzerland's municipalities, Chiasso is on the border with Italy, in front of Ponte Chiasso (a frazione of C ...
* ↗ 54: Chiasso Centro
:''Border with
Italy''Italian A9
References
{{Reflist
A02