Holiday travellers faced severe delays at Switzerland's Gotthard road tunnel on Saturday afternoon, as traffic backed up for 18 kilometres on the approach to the Alpine crossing, with waiting times reaching roughly three hours between Altdorf and Göschenen in Uri canton.
A construction zone inside the tunnel has narrowed the carriageway and will remain in place until late 2028, compounding the seasonal surge. The Touring Club Switzerland recommended diversions via the San Bernardino tunnel, Simplon Pass, or Great St Bernard Pass to avoid the worst of the congestion.
Frustrations spilled onto the roadside in Amsteg, where around 60 residents protested against diverting traffic through their community. Some stranded motorists left their vehicles to walk along the motorway, a practice police warn is illegal. Under Swiss traffic regulations, occupants may only enter the motorway in an emergency, and Uri cantonal police said violators face a 20-franc fine.