Work on the second Gotthard road tunnel began three years ago. Hundreds of workers from all over Europe are now at work on this titanic project. Diving into the depths of the mountain.
When the Gotthard miners rush into the mountains, they first rely on Saint Barbara, their patron saint. “Barbara is very important to us. We have already had luck here,” says Johann Riesslegger, miner foreman, in the 7:30 p.m.
The work is indeed delicate on the northern attack front of the tunnel. The workers advance with picks and explosives in an unstable basement.
“Here, you have to imagine everything that was dumped at the time of the railway tunnel of 1880. These are backfill materials. On the other side, we only have granite,” explains the one who dug tunnels across Europe.
Gotthard granite is special, beautiful and treacherous at the same time. Underground, the pressure is such that in the gallery, the rock cracks by itself. Despite maximum security, vigilance is permanent. “We have to be very careful.”
350 workers for a 17 km tunnel
On the north side, Jacopo Cheda, works director, is confident that the tunnel will be drilled. “We know the geology, we know the rock, and that helps us. In addition, Switzerland has become an expert in the construction of tunnels, also thanks to these past experiences.”
The drilling of the second road tube between Göschenen (UR) and Airolo (TI) began in September 2021 at a budgeted cost of 2 billion francs. With a length equal to the first (16.9 km), it must be inaugurated in 2030.
The Swiss people approved the construction of the second tube in February 2016. The structure must be built 70 meters from the first, to the east of the latter. It will also be connected to the service gallery which is located between the two tubes. 7.4 million tonnes of rock will be extracted from the mountain.
The first tunnel, 40 years old, will then be temporarily closed and renovated.
>> Reread: Work on the second Gotthard road tube has started
Currently, 350 workers are working day and night on the site. Most come from abroad. They live in specially constructed buildings in Göschenen.
Karl Marty, retired, dug the first Gotthard road tunnel in the 1970s. He remembers: “What a party we had! Every night. No miner had overalls security: all normal clothes Ah it was good.
Crystal maker tour
In the tunnel, after each explosion, the geologist from the canton of Uri makes his inspection tour in search of rock crystals. All the discoveries made on the Gotthard construction site belong to the canton of Uri, on the north side, and to Ticino, on the southern slope of the construction site.
Peter Amacher, geologist and crystal maker from Gotthard, has already discovered rare minerals, such as a pink fluorite whose value is worth thousands of francs. He must therefore ensure that minors do not steal anything.
“I have already seen this in other tunnels. As a general rule, we avoid having the police come to the site. It is much better for cohabitation in the tunnel.”
TV report: Julien Guillaume
Web adaptation: lan
