ThoseAmenities in Geneva –The nations tunnel has not yet found its audience
Inaugurated a year ago, the axis is under-occupied. The fault of a lack of notoriety and the fact that the Route de Ferney remains open to traffic, explains the canton.
Posted today at 11:11 a.m.
The guests walk in the tunnel to go to the inauguration of the Route des Nations, Friday March 22, 2024 in Geneva (illustration image).
Keystone / Save Nolfi)
Subscribe now and take advantage of the audio reading function.
Borrow The nations tunnel can give the impression of being alone in the world. At certain times, the massive work connecting the highway exchanger of the Grand-Saconnex to the districts of international organizations is very little frequented.
The figures confirm this impression. The counts carried out in June 2024 and then in September and completed at the end of the year reveal that in average, 11,000 vehicles take the tunnel every day.
The tunnel of nations in “underload”
However, according to the projections appearing in the building permission of 2016, the tunnel was to accommodate 17,600 vehicles per day. This discrepancy is recognized by the Department of Health and Mobility (DSM) that the Route des Nations is in a situation of “underload compared to what was expected”.
The realization of the Route des Nations, 1.2 km long, 80% of which be underground, started in September 2017. The canton devoted 171 million francs to it.
The authorities are putting forward several reasons for the lack of attendance. They believe first of all that the work must still “gain notoriety” and register in the habits of users.
Another factor invoked: the Ferney route remains open to individual motorized traffic. “This situation is provisional, because as soon as the work of the Nations Tram is started, the Route de Ferney will be cut in part of its route, which will strengthen the interest of the Route des Nations,” said Sophie Davaris, assistant secretary in charge of DSM communication.
Waiting for the Nations-Grand-Saconnex tramway
According to A recent response From the Council of State to a question by deputy Matthieu Jotterand (PS), the closure to the private motorized traffic of the Route de Ferney between the Morillons and the avenue de l’Ariana is envisaged for the second semester 2025, in connection with the launch of the work of the Nations-Grand-Saconnex tramway. However, this deadline remains conditioned on obtaining the building permit and the lack of appeal.
In the meantime, the effects of commissioning on local traffic are “for the most part in accordance with expectations and commitments”, according to the DSM. In Grand-Saconnex, the Colovrex road (village part) saw its traffic drop by 25% and the old-back by 60%.
In pregny-Chambésy, traffic on the pregny road fell by 40%. In the town of Geneva, that of rue de Lausanne has a decrease of 15%, while on the contrary, two axes of access to the tunnel record an increase in traffic: +10% on the avenue de la Paix, +13% on the road to the Morillons.
“Latest news”Do you want to stay at the top of the info? “Tribune de Genève” offers you two meetings per day, directly in your e-mailbox. To not miss anything of what is happening in your canton, Switzerland or in the world.
Other newslettersConnect
Did you find an error? Please report it to us.
7 Comments
