CUPRA 2025 OPENING
(only if the San Gottardo Pass is open)
From Saturday, May 17, to Sunday, June 29, 2025:
Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (except Friday, May 23, 2025)
From Friday, July 4, to Sunday, September 28, 2025:
every day from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (from September from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.)
from Friday, October 3 to Sunday, October 26, 2025:
every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Airolo and the Gotthard and Nufenen passes can be reached quickly via the Airolo/Passes preferential lane CUPRA without leaving the highway and without getting stuck in traffic jams.
Current
In May 2025, major work began on the construction of the final CUPRA, which will bypass the San Gottardo Sud service area via a dedicated link road and the installation of specific automated signage. The first activities involve the construction of the main structures (extension of the existing Stalvedro underpass, the new Stalvedro underpass and the retaining walls) and then the construction of the link road bypassing the rest area. All vertical signage (variable message signs, new video surveillance, new signage) will also be constructed and installed. The final CUPRA is scheduled to enter service in July 2026.
In the meantime, to temporarily relieve the towns of Ambrì, Piotta, and Airolo from parasitic traffic, USTRA is proposing a provisional version of the priority lane, optimized as far as possible, from summer 2022.
Construction period
2025-2026
What will be built?
A special lane on the highway leading directly from Varenzo to the Airolo exit and to the Gotthard and Nufenen passes, bypassing the Stalvedro service area to prevent traffic from intersecting with the highway entrances and exits to the service area.
Purpose
The main objectives of the CUPRA for northbound road users are the following:
- to shorten journey times on the Quinto-Airolo section for vehicles wishing to drive over the pass road
- a drastic reduction in traffic congestion on the cantonal road in a south-north direction
- to facilitate access to the pass road as an alternative to the tunnel
- increase safety in general, but especially for the local population using the cantonal road
Contents of the project
The CUPRA project envisages converting the emergency lane into a traffic lane, but only in the event of congestion. It will be activated via clearly visible LED signaling, which will indicate to road users that they can get to Airolo quickly and without leaving the freeway. The special CUPRA lane is around 7 kilometers long and extends on the emergency lane directly from the Quinto tunnel exit to the Airolo exit. In order to guarantee the continuity of the CUPRA lane, a bypass of the Stalvedro service area must be planned by creating a new connecting road in one direction only. To this end, changes must be made to some structures and the access road for suppliers must be relocated. The functionality of the Stalvedro service area and access from the recreational area to the floodplain of the River Ticino will be maintained.
Traffic control
Most of the structures in the CUPRA project will be built next to the highway axis. These new structures can therefore be built without major traffic disruptions. In principle, the construction site will only take up the emergency lane over a length of 2 to 3 kilometers. Access to the Stalvedro service area and use of the car and truck parking lots will continue to be possible at all times. Particular attention will be paid to the heavy summer traffic in order to minimize possible disruption for users of the freeway and the service area.
Costs
The planned investment for the construction of the final CUPRA facility amounts to approximately CHF 28 million, all of which will be covered by the Swiss Confederation.