Couldn't find anything about Switzerland here, so unless I'm gravely mistaken, please update me!

www.autobahnen.ch

The true Autobahn photosite about Swiss Motorways! Includes a German/French language forum too.

Here is a map of the system:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/da/Autbahnnetz_schweiz.png

Autostrasse is some kind of expressway, it's limited access and without same level crossing, but mostly only 1 lane per direction (or 2+1) and without central barrier.
As far as I know there are currently two big projects, the western bypass of Zurich, and an Autobahn/Autostrasse through the canton of Jura.
You can find pics of almost all the motorways on the site Chris mentioned.

The A9 extension to Brig is also in progress, but considering the local geography, that is gonna take a lot of time.

^^
right, forgot that one.
And it's not only a bypass of Zurich, but they will also built a new motorway from that bypass in the direction of Lucerne.

^^ And the photos???

I think the Swiss better doubled the Gotthardtunnel with a second tube, than building some 50km long Railtunnel nearby it.

The current tunnel is only one tube, very unsafe considering the huge distance. During summer times, waiting times get horrible, you'll easily could wait 3 - 4 hours before you can enter the tunnel.

^^ Well, at the very least if you own a car, you can take the route over the pass and enjoy some beautiful scenery!

[QUOTE=Chris1491;14756881]I think the Swiss better doubled the Gotthardtunnel with a second tube, than building some 50km long Railtunnel nearby it. QUOTE]

Well, the rail tunnel is happening, so not much to do about that whether one likes it or not... Still, I think they should double the Gotthard anyway, an ADT of close to 20 000 through a single tube tunnel is insane. Heard there were plans for a dualling, but not of late. Anyone who knows about this?

A dualling is highly unlikely.
Switzerland wants to move the freight across the alps from the roads on the rail. So a second Gotthard tube would be counterproductive.

Also they'd have to stump up the cost for the second road tunnel out of the existing road tax. The NEAT tunnels should go at least some way to paying for themselves through shuttle tolls and train ticket prices.

A dualling is highly unlikely.
Switzerland wants to move the freight across the alps from the roads on the rail. So a second Gotthard tube would be counterproductive.

Jamming trucks aren't productive either...

Well, the rail tunnel is happening, so not much to do about that whether one likes it or not... Still, I think they should double the Gotthard anyway, an ADT of close to 20 000 through a single tube tunnel is insane. Heard there were plans for a dualling, but not of late. Anyone who knows about this?

20.000 ADT is not very much. I know dutch single-lane roads who already have reached that amount of traffic. It are the safety measures that reduce the capacity extremely.

20.000 ADT is not very much.
For a single tube tunnel this number is quite large. Especially because of security.

Jammed trucks will have a option to quickly traverse Switzerland in a train.

With a 20.000 AADT, such a train can never be cost-effective.
In the Netherlands, a alternative freightroute is being build along the central eastern corridor (Rotterdam - Arnhem - Ruhrarea), the 2 motorways to that have over 200.000 AADT combined (parts over 350.000 combined), and the rail line turned out to be very unpopular by transportation companies.

With a 20.000 AADT, such a train can never be cost-effective.
In the Netherlands, a alternative freightroute is being build along the central eastern corridor (Rotterdam - Arnhem - Ruhrarea), the 2 motorways to that have over 200.000 AADT combined (parts over 350.000 combined), and the rail line turned out to be very unpopular by transportation companies.

Why? And out of curiosity, do you want Netherlands and rest of Europe to be auto centric/friendly as NA and SE Asia?

I consider the Netherlands very car unfriendly, although there is a lot of discussion about it. Most major routes are still only 2x2 lanes, residential area's are very car-unfriendly, very little parking space (even in new neighborhoods), unlogic routing in neighborhoods etc. And last, but not least, the gas prices are skyhigh here. We pay more taxes per gallon than you pay at all for gas a gallon. Gas prices are over 7 dollars a gallon, can't call that carfriendly, like in the US.

I'm not saying gas prices should be lower or so, but at least we like to expect some decent infrastructure for the high price we pay, capacitywise.

We don't need to be as carfriendly as america. In fact, I'm glad we're not waisting so much room on huge parking spaces and unneccesary big roads.

autobahnen.ch makes my/our work not escessary ;)

For a single tube tunnel this number is quite large. Especially because of security.

Absolutely, particularly in a 16-km-tunnel, and the fact that the traffic is considerably heavier in the summer adds to the problems. The most dangerous roads in Norway are relatively high-speed 2-lane expressways with an ADT of 10-20 000.

Pictures from Zurich and Basel

(wait a moment)

I hate this computer, i'll try tomorrow from my work

I've just noticed this sign on http://www.autobahnen.ch/index.php?lg=001&page=001, and I'm wondering, since when has the Swiss general-speed-limits sign been featuring the expressway sign (the one with car)? I knew there were roads in Switzerland designated with this sign, but this general sign didn't include it before; also, every time you entered an expressway (road reserved for motor vehicles) there was always a speed limit sign installed (it wasn't always 100 km/h). Interesting.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee119/Verso1/vmax.png

^^ what is this written in 50 sign?

^^Something like; in general or 'most of the time'?

That's a good thing (to sign motorroads). In Holland we've got exact the same limits (so also 100km/h as a standard for motorroads) but as far as I know they don't get signed at the border. That causes a lot of confusion and irritation...

I've just noticed this sign on http://www.autobahnen.ch/index.php?lg=001&page=001, and I'm wondering, since when has the Swiss general-speed-limits sign been featuring the expressway sign (the one with car)? I knew there were roads in Switzerland designated with this sign, but this general sign didn't include it before; also, every time you entered an expressway (road reserved for motor vehicles) there was always a speed limit sign installed (it wasn't always 100 km/h). Interesting.

Actually the last line is not true. Not every expressway has a speed limit sign. It has to have one if the limit is different to 100 km/h. Because of accidents alot of expressways have been lowered from 100km/h to 80km/h. That's why nowadays most of them have a 80km/h sign or even a 60km/h sign.

The word in the 50km/h sign means "general" this means it's 50km/h for the whole village and not only for the particular road you are currently on.

I (almost) always see the 100 km/h speed limit signs on expressways, even in the middle of an expressway, away from exits (I expect them only on on-ramps, but they are more frequent). I go to Switzerland (almost) every year and have by now driven on almost all expressways, so unless sth's changed in the last months...

True, there are alot of 100km/h signs on expressways, but there are some without.

Here is a shot I made of my favourite highway in Switzerland, the A13. The altitude here is about 1600m.

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/9453/mg1327bu7.jpg


Btw Chris, the link in the 'Thread/Country finder' is wrong for this thread.

Beautiful landscape, but A13 is in half profile, and is is an expressway ?

Btw Chris, the link in the 'Thread/Country finder' is wrong for this thread.

Check! Thanks :)

The A13 in CH isn't all motorway, as we can see in your pics. But it might be the highest major road in Switzerland.

It's full profile between St. Margrethen and Reichenau (about 80km).
Between Reichenau and Bellinzona (about 90km) it's not full profile. Most of it is 1+1, but also quite a few 2+1 and 2+2 sections (with and without median). But it's all the way limited access without at grade junctions.

And Chris, I was asking myself too if it's the highest major road and I'm pretty sure it is.

How do you define "major road"? I would say the Gotthard Pass is Swiss' highest major road (in parts four lanes, very wide road). But it's not open the whole year.
Simplon pass (2 005m) it apparently opened most of the winter, Lukmanier pass (1 914m) is probably (I'm not sure) the highest Swiss pass opened the whole year.

^^
I was thinking of Autobahnen and Autostrassen

According to the German wikipedia, the southern ramp of the Gotthard pass road is a Autostrasse (with a max. speed of 100km/h, 40 in turns). If it leads up to the pass (2 005m), it should be the highest mayor road in Switzerland.

The bushes on the medians on swiss motorways will be removed in the next few years :(
The medians will be asphalted. Maintenance was too dangerous because of increasing traffic.

I like the Switzerland highways :) Just the mountains and tunnels everywhere, I also remember that we had to pay 30 euro's for a sticker ( sort of tax ) and to stick that sticker on our window :P It was in 2006 I think :) Nice journey! we slept in a 2 star IBIS Hotel in Winterthur or something? ;)

Btw.: I recently found out that the Simplon pass road is classiefied as A-road (A9 or something), so it's part of the highest level of Swiss roads. Nevertheless, you can drive on it by bike.
So, if we use this scheme to define "mayor road" it's the 2000something high Simplon pass.

Some pictures i promised 3 months ago :)

1. Road from Rapperswil to St. Gallen.

http://images34.fotosik.pl/49/9707e59a8ca72f2a.jpg

http://images28.fotosik.pl/114/03fa77977f7bef93.jpg

http://images31.fotosik.pl/49/8882b02f8801afea.jpg

http://images33.fotosik.pl/49/d6dbe61304828dee.jpg

2. From St. Gallen to Zurich.

http://images24.fotosik.pl/115/f623b3f874db6b13.jpg

http://images29.fotosik.pl/115/829243afa622a437.jpg

http://images34.fotosik.pl/49/c03dbb4a242a42da.jpg

http://images33.fotosik.pl/49/203a68d317622fa8.jpg

http://images33.fotosik.pl/49/7d5a0cc3fc64f8d7.jpg

http://images29.fotosik.pl/115/f16c746f19b6fedf.jpg

http://images32.fotosik.pl/49/e09d1ce943c87672.jpg

http://images31.fotosik.pl/49/745dcc825a4bb544.jpg

http://images34.fotosik.pl/49/66c35d0b19a07897.jpg

http://images31.fotosik.pl/49/391fe49327088ebe.jpg

http://images33.fotosik.pl/49/e65e57d0838fccb7.jpg

http://images33.fotosik.pl/49/3cf10367c2cc530c.jpg

http://images33.fotosik.pl/49/9b849a0bb7cc8713.jpg

http://images34.fotosik.pl/49/37a3673ed93415d2.jpg

http://images33.fotosik.pl/49/7ee92ad6868538cf.jpg

http://images31.fotosik.pl/49/298ba810efb6e5ad.jpg

http://images28.fotosik.pl/114/0b5612042ef6f1d3.jpg

http://images25.fotosik.pl/114/2715e67b4f68be21.jpg

http://images26.fotosik.pl/114/96c488580b32fb7a.jpg

http://images34.fotosik.pl/49/fed9a817be7f91ed.jpg

http://images31.fotosik.pl/49/13002898c4ae4b6f.jpg

http://images33.fotosik.pl/49/29a2db509e42c39d.jpg

http://images31.fotosik.pl/49/a92c49a2f0c06f46.jpg

http://images34.fotosik.pl/49/fa57d76162a10eb5.jpg

http://images28.fotosik.pl/114/ddb0ab855af74047.jpg

In next 3 months i'll post pictures from Basel. :)

Is that in Zürich? I notice all those tunnels, though i have never been to Zürich. (i did the Luzern - Sargans route, just east of Zürich).

with the actual currency the toll sticker is just 25Euros.

It´s a fair over for 1 years of using highways


... myself like the extis around St. Gallen ... they look like from a big city
und coming from Rorschach you see if you have power or not ... there a long part goiing up for a few degrees

with the actual currency the toll sticker is just 25Euros.

It´s a fair over for 1 years of using highways


Yeah, it's actually kind of cheap. The Dutch proposed toll system would cost the average Randstad motorway user hundreds to even up to a thousand euro's annually.

Well 25€ for one year is really cheap. The problem is that you can't buy a sticker for a week or 10 days like for example in Austria. Even if you only cross Switzerland on your way to Italy you have to pay for a whole year.

Yeah that's true, but then again, who cares about € 25 on vacation?

when you are in swiss don´t care about the money ... eat something at any raststation and you have 40 chf away ;)

but so 2 months in austria are more expensive than one year in switzerland

Pictures near Zurich (except the first one) were shot on part of A1, between two green dots.

http://images31.fotosik.pl/139/07390a7282809a83.jpg

I can see some sort of emergency lane on the 4th pic, is that road planned to become a motorway or 2x2 road?

This is N16 road between Wattwil and Wil. By looking at the map and knowing, that first three pictures were taken on Wattwil bypass, i don't think it will be upgraded to higher standards than S 1x2.

http://images25.fotosik.pl/155/f8804d019788dd86.jpg

Some pictures from Basel.


Kaiser Augst - roman temple ruins.
http://images32.fotosik.pl/49/7b83364d340c6849.jpg

A2 (Zurich)/A3(Bern) interchange.
http://images30.fotosik.pl/115/e5289022ef3008a9.jpg

http://images33.fotosik.pl/49/c7ac30f5ee1f642a.jpg


And now moving from Basel to german border
http://images30.fotosik.pl/115/9bd40eca4e95090f.jpg

http://images24.fotosik.pl/115/c0e25f769dad11e3.jpg

http://images29.fotosik.pl/115/6ed7c3264e089fb1d.jpg

http://images24.fotosik.pl/115/370658240fe836f8.jpg

http://images33.fotosik.pl/49/3f010076c4cde60d.jpg

http://images32.fotosik.pl/49/de6fac2a286822c0.jpg

http://images32.fotosik.pl/49/2592ac851b633f89.jpg

http://images32.fotosik.pl/49/9b2b6b0e31f14312.jpg

http://images30.fotosik.pl/115/017afd369fa57118.jpg

http://images28.fotosik.pl/114/304a83fa097c7631.jpg

http://images26.fotosik.pl/114/109cd51c634d3e42.jpg

http://images31.fotosik.pl/49/4d0b9fa104dc6a8b.jpg

http://images32.fotosik.pl/49/8fbff7f702cedf45.jpg

http://images31.fotosik.pl/49/be6946b11170b5e7.jpg

Great pics, I love the motorway through Basel (except in rush hours ;)).



http://images31.fotosik.pl/49/745dcc825a4bb544.jpg

http://images33.fotosik.pl/49/3cf10367c2cc530c.jpgWhere on earth were these two photos shot? :crazy2:

This is A1/A4 motorway, and there are 2 following pictures.
1. I drive 4 lane motorway and at the exit 65, this lanes split - 2 to the left, 2 to the right.
2. Drivers entering at this exit move upside (on bridge you can see) and join two left lanes.
3. 2 left lanes (with drivers that entered) merge with 2 right lanes.
4. I drive 4 lane motorway again.
5. lanes split again - 2 left to the city and two right to the airport and other directions.

Some pictures:
http://images32.fotosik.pl/141/9fe0dfbd1ed5a137.jpg

http://images26.fotosik.pl/157/912484afd1eb8e81.jpg


More detailed pictures.
First signpost.
http://images32.fotosik.pl/141/b189d2d9fb81d643.jpg

http://images27.fotosik.pl/157/db9907e8340ab5d0.jpg

http://images26.fotosik.pl/157/1398e6bc01464504.jpg

http://images29.fotosik.pl/157/cd94a3403694e810.jpg

http://images26.fotosik.pl/157/3351c52dbd782638.jpg

Second signpost.
http://images29.fotosik.pl/157/b19494712c4978e0.jpg

^^ Thank you for the detailed discription! Wow, so many times I've driven here and haven't noticed it yet! :weird:

Why do the Swiss use the addition '-city' on their signage, instead of 'Zentrum' 'Centre' or something like that? (in one of their own languages)

Because Zürich is a financial center perhaps?

I've only seen it in Zürich, elsewhere it's "Zentrum".

In the cosmopolitan Germany it's "Stadtmitte". :hammer:

Because Zürich is a financial center perhaps?

no, in basel there are also some destination boards with " Basel-city", but don't ask me why:dunno:

Some pics of the u/c western bypass of Zürich by Marcel Monterie.
Interestingly, the signs are already installed although the bypass won't be open until next year.

http://lh5.google.com/monterie.ch/R7dW8cdQVII/AAAAAAAAAOQ/yjuylncxojg/A3_pos_32_50_DSCF7707_20080216.JPG?imgmax=576

http://picasaweb.google.com/monterie.ch/A302/photo#5167700419053376722

http://lh6.google.com/monterie.ch/R7dWosdQU0I/AAAAAAAAALw/QGotYCDdIGU/A3_pos_31_50_DSCF7665_20080216.JPG?imgmax=576

http://lh5.google.com/monterie.ch/R7dnycdQWfI/AAAAAAAAAh8/4Bl2vkN54gQ/A4_neg_71_29_20_DSCF7685_20080216.JPG?imgmax=576

Simplon Pass 2.008m / 6.588 ft

The Simplon Pass is one of the major passes in Switzerland, capable of handling quite a few traffic, with some intersections even grade-separated. It connects the Swiss Canton of Wallis/Valais with the region of Domodossola in Italy. It gives an alternative route from Genève/Bern to Milano.

Photo's from west to east order, Swiss Road no. 9 and Italian Road SS33

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/5872526.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/5872524.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/2601645.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/5872514.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/5845165.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/6337230.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/5844518.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/1083251.jpg

http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/8578448.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/2938041.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/5621528.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/722670.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/2601796.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/5643226.jpg

It gives an alternative route from Genève to Milano.

It was actually the main route when the Mont Blanc Tunnel was closed. That Italian expressway is the worst expressway I've ever driven. It's interesting that the Simplon Pass isn't the border between Switzerland and Italy.

The lanes somehow look narrow, why that? I even think they are dangerously narrow, I would be affraid to drive on such narrow motorways.

It was actually the main route when the Mont Blanc Tunnel was closed.Actually I prefere to go by Grand St. Bernard tunnel (I did it this Easter too, but with chains for snow :bash: )

Anyway if you don't want to drive on Simplon pass (often closed in winther) there is a shuttle train wich carries vehicles between Brig (CH) and Iselle de Trasquera (I -despite the name) by a train tunnel built about 100 years ago (the longest train tunnel till they open the Gothard base tunnel)
Lovely experience I suggest you
That Italian expressway is the worst expressway I've ever driven.
Many years since last time I've been there, but I don't remember Domodossola-Simplon expressway that bad... surely it is an old expressway, while Domodossola-Sesto Calende highway (on Western coast of Lago Maggiore) is quite new and good for sure

The shuttle-train for cars of Simplon tunnel

http://www.drogocrans.ch/Iselle01.jpg

http://www.drogocrans.ch/horaires_des_navettes_transport_.htm

A not yet refurbished one

http://www.euro-photos-trains.com/pics/bls23.jpg

The tunnel

http://media.teknoring.it/immagini/novecento/sempione-2.jpg

The lanes somehow look narrow, why that? I even think they are dangerously narrow, I would be affraid to drive on such narrow motorways.

They seem pretty standard width to me. Remember this is a high mountain road, and not some kind of ordinary highway across valleys

Actually I prefere to go by Grand St. Bernard tunnelThat's another option, but the tunnel is very expensive, whereas the pass is very long and slow.

Anyway if you don't want to drive on Simplon pass (often closed in winther)Really? I thought it was open all the time.

Many years since last time I've been there, but I don't remember Domodossola-Simplon expressway that bad... surely it is an old expressway, while Domodossola-Sesto Calende highway (on Western coast of Lago Maggiore) is quite new and good for sureI'm talking about the expressway SS33 between Domodossola and the A26 motorway. Actually it's not expressway and the speed limit is just 90 km/h (rightfully!), but it's 4-laned. It's also been some four years since I last drove there, but the pavement was absolutely awful. You couldn't drive more than 100 km/h. But the A26 motorway was fine.

Really? I thought it was open all the time.

Actually it is, but when it snows a lot you ought to have chains or even they can close it

Bernina Pass 2.328m

The Bernina pass runs from the vicinty of St Moritz to the Italian border region near Tirano. The pass is 2.328 meters high, and is considered one of the most beautiful in the Alps.

Pics from north to south.
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/6430333.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/3662515.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/5768132.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/2635005.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/2878747.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/6773493.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/2415131.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/1203357.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/4162461.jpg

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/3174728.jpg

http://static4.bareka.com/photos/medium/7096939.jpg

Splügenpass
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/1371598.jpg

^^Great pic! You don't want to have a crash over there.

I drove the Splügen once, this part is quite friendly comparing to the Italian side. Where you have tunnels with no light and roads along of cliffs.

Yeah, I've got the idea Switzerland has generally much safer roads than Italy.

Which is not that hard.
:runaway:

Currently 3 hour delays at the southbound A2 before the Gotthard tunnel.

Currently 3 hour delays at the southbound A2 before the Gotthard tunnel.

^^Holiday traffic?

Sure.

How do they regulate this tunnel? Some people say that it's just 1 lane per direction, others say that they swap every time so you have 2 lanes for 1 direction, and 0 for the other direction.

Blockabfertigung.

To avoid traffic jams in the tunnel, they let the traffic through in groups. It's obvious that it's better to construct a second tube. But the Swiss choose to build a longer Gotthard railway tunnel.

^^ Yes, outrageous, if you ask me. They can build an almost 60-km railway tunnel, but not a 17-km road tunnel, which is much more needed IMO. :|

Luckily we don't have these problems in the Netherlands :D

^ You may not have these problems in the Netherlands, but you have them if you go to the seaside in Italy. :P

Luckily we don't have these problems in the Netherlands :D

You'd think? We've built for billions of euros a HSR with eg a 7km tunnel, but we can't fill a 7km gap on one of dutch busiest motorways. :nuts:

^^I meant the problems of tunnel regulation etc. We don't have any mountains.

^ You may not have these problems in the Netherlands, but you have them if you go to the seaside in Italy. :P

I went to Italy once, using the Brenner pass, so no problems for me :D

^^I meant the problems of tunnel regulation etc. We don't have any mountains.

But we do have a lot of tunnels, and guidelines for building and maintaining a tunnel have become much stricter (see eg the problems on the A73). The only advantage is that we don't have 2-lane tunnels, all of them have 2 or more lanes in each direction.

^^Yeah, only the A73 tunnels give problems. For the rest it's quite ok. What is actually the longest 2-lane tunnel in NL?

^^ Westerschelde tunnel I assume. However, this is about Switzerland. :D

^^I thought that was 2 tubes of both 2 lanes. But this tunnel is so quiet it almost can't give any problems. And yes, you're right we're getting off-topic.

I just planned my holiday in Switzerland. I want to visit Lauterbrunnen (Berner Oberland) and some other places which aren't sure, perhaps Wallis/Valais and make a tour through Graubünden. :) Can't wait to go. I'll go there by the end of August, so I have to wait a little while.

^^I went to Wallis a few years ago. It's really beautiful, but the camping I stayed on was really crap.

^^ Luckily, Switzerland has a great amount of campsites. Cost of living is more expensive in Switzerland, however gas is cheaper, which is for me the largest share in my holiday-budget :D I only take a small tent with me, so I shouldn't pay more than 10 - 15 euro's a night, sometimes even less.

however gas is cheaper, which is for me the largest share in my holiday-budget :D

Don't forget to fill your tank at Samnaun. ;)

^^ Most Swiss gas stations have a € 1,10 to € 1,25 gas price. That's 40 - 50 cents cheaper than in the Netherlands.

Don't forget to fill your tank at Samnaun. ;)

I quote! Just look for a crappy little gas station at the end of Samnaun, with a Bosnian selling cheap gas. :D

But the Swiss choose to build a longer Gotthard railway tunnel.
It was a people vote, on both tunnels. So I think it's fair to say we don't want to have a second road tunnel tube.

If you enjoy driving, you should go over the pass anyway.

In the Lauterbrunnen valley you have to see the Trümmerlbach-falls! Jungrfaujoch is also nice, but expensive.

^^ I have been to the Trümmelbach about 9 years ago. I haven't been to Jungfraujoch and I'm not planning on doing so, I think it's too expensive, about € 120 for a round trip. Hell, my roundtrip from the Netherlands to Berlin was cheaper than that. No I'm planning on doing some hikes in the area.

3 hour delays at the Gotthardtunnel currently.

Like on every summer saturday...

Btw. Its also a political decision to build the rail tunnels instead of a second Gotthard road tube. This would cause much more road traffic and henceforth much more noise and environmental polution than putting the goods on trains. With the future increase of transalpine traffic, that's the right way for the future I think. Austria is planning the Brennerbasistunnel to lower traffic on that transit corridor as well, so that seems to be the trend.

I think it's a mistake of Switzerland to think all goods will be transferred onto trains for that laughable short distance. Traffic jams will only increase at these tunnels, and other connections, like the San Bernardino, Brenner, Mt Blanc and Simplon.

However, traffic volumes are fairly low over the year, but the tunnel becomes overcrowded during the summer. The problem is that the Gotthard is the most truck-friendly, route, it's much flatter than the Brenner and San Bernardino, hence the lower fuel costs.

This would cause much more road traffic and henceforth much more noise and environmental polution than putting the goods on trains. With the future increase of transalpine traffic, that's the right way for the future I think. Austria is planning the Brennerbasistunnel to lower traffic on that transit corridor as well, so that seems to be the trend.

On what way Swiss is going to reduce pollution as tunnelqueue's are getting only longer, and there's too little attraction to take trains (passengers as well as freight)? You're not solving those problems by only building rail infrastructure, how good your well known PT system may be.

Only 15.000 vehicles use the Gotthardtunnel on an average daily base. How many of that are trucks? 5.000 - 10.000 would already be very much. That's nothing for such an important transportation axe. The Swiss have to accept the fact that transport is growing throughout Europe, also in Switzerland, which has the position as a very important transitcountry.

Btw. Its also a political decision to build the rail tunnels instead of a second Gotthard road tube. This would cause much more road traffic and henceforth much more noise and environmental polution than putting the goods on trains.

I strongly disagree. There are mostly no queues (or they are short) out of summer, so no one hesitates to use the tunnel anyway. And in summer, people don't care what the length of the traffic jam is, they won't cancel their vacations b/c of that. With so much stand-still traffic in front of the tunnel, you only get more polution. Considering that Switzerland can build a 57-km-long rail tunnel, a second road tube is urgent for summers. Don't the Swiss use it in summer too?

15.000 vehicles a day is still not that low for a 2-lane tunnel. Especially not considering traffic safety, which is much worse than in a tunnel with a second tube.

^ Indeed; I don't like driving through this tunnel.

Only 15.000 vehicles use the Gotthardtunnel on an average daily base. How many of that are trucks? 5.000 - 10.000 would already be very much. That's nothing for such an important transportation axe.

3.200 trucks/day or 950.000 trucks/year.

The Swiss have to accept the fact that transport is growing throughout Europe, also in Switzerland, which has the position as a very important transitcountry.

That's why Switzerland is building a new railroad (and a half).

Plans are to limit trucks throught the four Swiss passes/tunnels to 650.000 a year, of which about 450.000 throught the Gotthard.

The old Gotthard rail tunnel could then be used by shuttle trains carrying private cars on peak periods.

The second tube of the road tunnel has been rejected a few years ago by a referendum, and by referendum, too, construction of the new railway tunnel has been approved.

Don't the Swiss use it in summer too?

I take the train :)

3.200 trucks is nothing. Major transportation axes in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany carry up to and over 20.000 trucks per day. I really don't think Switzerland wants not only to reduce the amount of trucks, but also gets the growth of trucks onto trains.

Besides the truck issue, the major traffic jams on summer weekends are due to cars, and there are too many to handle with trains. Outside these peak periodes, traffic safety should be concern #1 to construct a 2nd tube.

Construction of new transalpine roads is forbidden by the constitution. To build a second tube another referendum would be necessary, and it is not sure it would be approved.

Well 25€ for one year is really cheap. The problem is that you can't buy a sticker for a week or 10 days like for example in Austria. Even if you only cross Switzerland on your way to Italy you have to pay for a whole year.

25 euros is about the price of a single passage throught the two French/Italian tunnels, where you have to pay for the motorway separately.

Anyway if you don't want to drive on Simplon pass (often closed in winther) there is a shuttle train wich carries vehicles between Brig (CH) and Iselle de Trasquera (I -despite the name) by a train tunnel built about 100 years ago (the longest train tunnel till they open the Gothard base tunnel)
Lovely experience I suggest you

Many years since last time I've been there, but I don't remember Domodossola-Simplon expressway that bad... surely it is an old expressway, while Domodossola-Sesto Calende highway (on Western coast of Lago Maggiore) is quite new and good for sure

The Simplon Tunnel has been the longest from the opening in 1906 until 1982. Now there are 8 longer tunnels in use and 5 under construction.

A new expressway is under construction between the Italian A26 and the border.

Shuttle trains are used to pass the Lötschberg, that has no road at all.

Construction of new transalpine roads is forbidden by the constitution. To build a second tube another referendum would be necessary, and it is not sure it would be approved.

Well, first, this it not a "new" road. It's the improvement of an existing road. Second of all, I don't think making a referendum on everything is really a solution, however, that's another topic.

The constitution forbids not only new roads but also increasing capacity on existing ones.

Some referendum, mainly locals, in Switzerland are useless, I agree. But this one would be necessary, anyway.

The problem with those rail projects is that their revenues/passengers/tonnages are usually grossly overestimated.

here's (http://flyvbjerg.plan.aau.dk/Publications2006/TRAFFIC111PRINTTRANSPREV.pdf) an interesting study about inaccuracy in planning forecasts.

If you read the whole PDF, you'll see nearly all railprojects are overestimated, and road projects are underestimated in usage. The problem with such huge rail projects is that they cost huge amounts of money, and they have to make high usage projections in order to justify the construction costs.

The Gotthard railway has today 50% more goods traffic than the other transalpine railways.

As for passengers, there will be at least a train every 30 minutes at peaks, and more during holydays.

Some old statistics, rail passengers in 1979, in millions:
Fréjus: 1,5
Simplon-Lötschberg: 3
Gotthard: 7
Brenner: 2,5

A new expressway is under construction between the Italian A26 and the border.

A completely new expressway, or the existing one just being repaved? This seems enough to me.

The existing one (one lane per direction) is being extended until the border. Until last year you had to go throught the villages, now the expressway avoid them on bridges.

If roads would be build according to summer weekends traffic, then all motorways in south Europe need to be widened to 3+3 or more lanes. But you just can't do that.

^^ Ofcourse not, but there is a whole theater of options between a one lane tunnel with blockabfertigung and a 6 lane freeway.

The problem is that in my opinion, 2 - 4 hour delays at a tunnel is unacceptable. You don't even loose that much time on the Autoroute du Soleil over 200 kilometers on a black saturday. I think a 2x2 Gotthardtunnel can do the job, the other motorways in Switzerland can handle the holiday traffic with 2x2 lanes too without having massive delays.

Traffic jams on weekends in holidays will always exist, and I don't advocate to eliminate them all, but c'mon 3 - 4 hours waiting is just ridiculous. Same thing happened in Austria, it takes you half the day to travel from Salzburg to Villach. Katschbergtunnel also had blockabfertigung and multiple hours delays, besides the 4 hrs delay at the Tauerntunnel.

The existing one (one lane per direction) is being extended until the border. Until last year you had to go throught the villages, now the expressway avoid them on bridges.I don't quite understand. You're saying that the existing road (one lane per direction) is being extended (widened/twinned/doubled, I suppose), but that there's also a new expressway? Or that a one-lane-per-direction expressway was built last year, and is now being doubled? What's the pavement of the old "expressway" between Domodossola and A26 like? Has it been repaved, or it's still catastrophic?

Sorry!

There was a gap of a few km near the border, without expressway, and traffic used the old route throught the villages.

Now the expressway has been prolonged until the border (still one lane per direction), and traffic doesn't run anymore throught the villages.

I don't remember how was the pavement.

^ Thanks, now it's clear. Good news. :)

To the Gotthard problem:

The general problem is that every increase in capacity of a road creates more traffic. What would be acceptable elsewhere is much more problematic in a narrow valley (noise, polution, etc.). Therefore, trying to get as much traffic as possible from road to rail is a good alternative in my opinion. Sure, lots of cars are still there, but with high speed links from Milan to Zurich and Bern, it should be a attractive alternative e. g. for businessmen, etc.

You'd actually do a favor to the nature with construction of a second tube. :)

^^When will it be finished?

I think it's a much greater favour to put at least most of the trucks on trains in Luzern and take them of in Bellinzona. By far.

^^ Keep on dreaming. Such things never work. Do you think they gonna buy a vignette, and then get on a train because they are afraid traffic is gonna increase slightly at the Gotthard?

The general problem is that every increase in capacity of a road creates more traffic.

How much can that be? 20.000 vehicles is NOTHING for such an important axe. Hell, we call those the most quiet motorways in the Netherlands or Germany. I really don't think the train idea is gonna work. It only works when there is absolutely no other option, like the Channel tunnel.

Sorry, I heard to many "hallelujah-stories" about rail transport that didn't work out to believe in this railplan.

There will a limit of 650.000 trucks instead of 1.200.000 today. UE agreed on this limit because Switzerland offered the railway as alternative.

The freight traffic of the Gotthard railway is about ten times more the traffic of the Channel tunnel.

Switzerland will not offer truck shuttles like the Eurotunnel, instead it promotes intermodal and traditional freight trains.

As for passengers, for example, Milan-Zurich is 3h20 by car (estimed by mappy.it), 2h40 by train in the future. Sure families on holiday will still probably prefer the car to transport their luggage. But some passenger traffic will use the railway instead.

^^ Station to station is completely different than door-to-door. I know this kind of promotional talk about public transport. That's also the disadvantage of public/rail transport, station to station is fast, but additional transport to reach your destination takes up a lot of time.

Again, Switzerland should be happy about the number of trucks. Transport axes in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands carry over 6.000.000 trucks per year, and it's estimated that that will grow by 80%.

The Gotthard has less traffic also compared to the Brenner, but if we can reduce it, why not?

=================================

A strange single-lane tunnel, with alternate traffic. It is 3,4 km long and lies there (http://maps.google.it/maps?f=q&hl=it&geocode=&q=livigno&sll=41.442726,12.392578&sspn=11.031806,19.160156&ie=UTF8&ll=46.638122,10.197544&spn=0.039484,0.074844&t=p&z=14).

http://belofastow.com/Livigno/DSC05047-2.JPG

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnel_Munt_La_Schera

http://www.engadin-strom.ch/en/fs_inhalt.php?section=5&sprache=en

http://www.belofastow.com/

http://picasaweb.google.com/Nlogax.net/LivignoItalyStMoritzSwitzerland2008/photo#5183229175963904962

It only works when there is absolutely no other option, like the Channel tunnel.

And even the channel tunnel has alternatives: the boats. In fact, not that much truck traffic goes through the tunnel, practicly only high priority goods (like flowers).

The general problem is that every increase in capacity of a road creates more traffic.

Even if that effect would be a few thousand vehicles a day (which already would be quite much), where are we talking about? There's no doubt Swiss has a well PT network, but that doesn't mean you have to attract just a few possible car drivers to take trains for every price. Tunnels are extremely expensive, and it's clear a second tube would solve the real problems (people queueing for hours, plus the increase of traffic safety) instead of those micrograms of pollution.

That's the different point of view you can e.g. see between perhaps NL and Switzerland, but surely between Switzerland and Austria or Germany.
The Swiss try to increase public transport options whilst other countries still prefer motorway building. With rising oil prices, the attractiveness of such transit train connections will rise even more, not only for freight but also passenger traffic. And I think therefore it's a decision that will fit better in teh upcoming decades than expanding the road. Btw. the general problems such a motorway in a narrow valley cause aren't comparable to flat NL as well.
Have you ever looked down to the valley the motorway runs across/through. The Wipptal and lower Inntal (Brenner) is a perfect example how transit traffic can ruin the living standard. Therefore, putting as much traffic as possible on rails under the mountain (and not only trucks, but conventional freight trains) is by far the better option than expanding the motorway monster which creates only more pollution (exhaust pollution that doesn't leave the valley and noise pollution reflected by the mountains...).
With increasing traffic the Gotthard monotube will probably get more and more unattractive for freighthaulers and the rail option more and more attractive. And for passengers (at least business travellers) the trains can be for the first time a real alternative because they will need the same time as cars for the first time.

As for passengers, for example, Milan-Zurich is 3h20 by car (estimed by mappy.it), 2h40 by train in the future. Sure families on holiday will still probably prefer the car to transport their luggage. But some passenger traffic will use the railway instead.
2h40 counting HS in Italian stretch ana mid-high in Switzerland?

Anyway: this w.e. I came there, Coccodrillo, between Lausanne and Geneva... by train from Milan is about 3h30
By car about the same... but when I went there by car last time (as I poreviously said in the thread) I found heavy snow on Grand St. Bernard (in the first day of Spring!!!!) and my trip last about 8h!!!!!!

2h40 counting the Gotthard and Ceneri base tunnels, both under construction (the first will probably open in 2017, the second in 2019).

With the planned new lines (Milano-Lugano, Erstfeld-Zürich) travel time would be shorter, but this parts are not financed yet.

But again, this tunnels will allow also the reduction of transit traffic. It is known from the beginning that they will not pay for themselves. And their cost overruns are not enormous. Overcosts appeared because it has been decided to extend the original project with other options. Cost overruns due to the geology problems are "only" 700 millions of euro.

I really don't think people are gonna buy a vignette PLUS paying for this train service.

We can also just dig a tunnel under Switzerland, that would avoid this problems :D

I really don't think people are gonna buy a vignette PLUS paying for this train service.

it depends on the price of the train service and the price of fuel, don't you think? SBB is not stupid and therefore it will set a reasonable price, taking into account that the priority is not to make money but to take traffic out of the roads; plus as you have already been told, the traffic limit of trucks will be substantially lower.

I really don't think people are gonna buy a vignette PLUS paying for this train service.

There will no shuttle service like Eurotunnel, nor for trucks nor for private cars. The new line will be used only by passenger, freight and intermodal trains. If there will be a shuttle service, it will be for trucks only and on a very limited basis, like today (a train every 1 to 2 hours, or less).

In my opinion the old line could be used to shuttle only cars and only during peak periods. A limited service is still operated when the road tunnel is closed.

Anyway, often residents in Switzerland can buy a daily ticket valid everywhere (trains and buses) for 20 euro. And children up to 16 years travels for free, if they travel with their parents or grand-parents.

I think they would rather put the freight on a train in the beginnning than transporting it to the Gotthard on a lorry, putting the lorry then on a train and so on. Would be even better.

However, Switzerland makes real efforts to increase the rail share on freight traffic, e. g. by cofinancing modernization of corridors to Switzerland: The rail line Munich - Lindau (-Zurich) will finally be electrified in some years which is really necessary only because the Swiss pay some million Euros, too.

Switzerland doesn't want lorries!! the tolls for them are incredible, and at bordercrossing they don't tolerate even 1 cm over 4 meters (height) without penalties¨, which are, again, really high

I think they would rather put the freight on a train in the beginnning than transporting it to the Gotthard on a lorry, putting the lorry then on a train and so on. Would be even better.

You're talking about freight. What about cars that get stuck in front of Gotthard for hours? It's inhumane.

Cars are harder to fight, I guess. As said before, probably noone who goes on holidays will use a train instead of his car (but with rising oil price, this might change for some people). For business travellers, the train will surely be an good option (as fast but more reliable (no jams) and you can work in the train). But if there will be a significant decrease in lorries this would have a positive effect on car traffic, of course.
However, lorries are in general the bigger problem for a transit country I would say (loud, slow, pollution), so it's a good start to fight them.

Regarding the penalties: Well, Switzerland is a "special case", I would say... ;)

Nice climb to Griesalp:

Jetzt gehts los:
http://www.quaeldich.de/img/2/10.jpg

http://www.quaeldich.de/img/2/14.jpg

28?? the record i've seen so far was 22%

28% is enormous. What about those 360 curves between Chur and Arosa (720 with return drive)? Has anyone else driven them? I'm not driving there again.

There's a street in Dunedin, New Zealand, which has a 40% incline I think.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldwin_Street,_Dunedin

You'd actually do a favor to the nature with construction of a second tube. :)
No because then we would have the same amount of traffic as the Brenner route.

no, There´s as least one point against it:

swiss has an own vignette too and boarders as a non eu country.

i think it will never be like Brenner, even with 2nd tube (but of course traffix amount would raise)

Austria have a Vignette too, plus there is a Mout (toll) there is no toll on the Gotthardtunnel.

which surely would change when they would do a "mamut"-project like a second tube

Hardly, the Canton Ticino would do anything to prevent having a toll on the Gotthard. It's to political. The Grand St.Bernhard is the only route that has toll in Switzerland. There would have to be laws changed, if not even the constitution before there is a toll on the Gotthard.

I think a 27 euro vignette is expensive enough for generally no more than 3 hours driving through Switzerland.

You only pay it once a year, nothing compared to the LSVA.

The toll for the Mont Blanc tunnel is 33 euro, plus 10 euro on the italian A5 to Turin. Then you have to pay the other Italian and French motorways. Every time you use the route, not every year.

(another tolled route in Switzerland is the Munt la Schera tunnel, see page 7 of this thread, and the car shuttle trains)

(instead of another Gotthard tunnel, I would like a road between Bellinzona and Chiavenna - there is only one link between these two regions, about 30 km sout of these two towns)

I've been to Chiavenna once, it's surrounded by high mountains except for the southern side. The nearest pass to Switzerland is the Splügenpass. I had a vacation in Vicosoprano (not far from the Malojapass) a couple of years ago. Wonderful nature over there.

Some Pics i taked:
(All Pics are GPS Tagged! Klick on the link bellow the picture to see where it have been taked!)


http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/1637173.jpg
The 17km long tunnel San Gotthardo
HQ+GPS: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/1637173

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/2833888.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/2833888

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/4344580.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/4344580

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/4344698.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/4344698

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/4344802.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/4344802

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/7340371.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/7340371

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/7437293.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/7437293

http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/11618425.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/11618425

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/8631832.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/8631832


http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/8631446.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/8631446

http://static4.bareka.com/photos/medium/12438335.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/12438335

http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/12438253.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/12438253

http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/12437956.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/12437956

http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/12437772.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/12437772


Hope you liked it. if you will i can post more pics here!


Well I have made over 600 Pics from Highway in Switzerland.
You can see them here: http://www.panoramio.com/user/162195/tags/Highway

Great pictures! Thanks! :cheers:

http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/8631832.jpg

The straightest motorway in Switzerland, also functioning as an eventual airstrip, right? :) Nice photos! :cheers:

I like the Swiss signage. Usually very clear. Also, the font is better than that what they use in neighboring countries (except Germany).

I like the Swiss signage. Usually very clear. Also, the font is better than that what they use in neighboring countries (except Germany).

i like their signage also because font is very similar to our and generally i think i would feel as at home with that signs :)

The straightest motorway in Switzerland, also functioning as an eventual airstrip, right? :) Nice photos! :cheers:

Yes they can use it as a Runway, when there will be war^^

There are 4 Parts who can be used as runways for arcrafts here in Switzerland.

Very nice pics.
Where did you take these?

http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/11618425.jpg

http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/12437772.jpg

^^ Click the links.

Yes they can use it as a Runway, when there will be war^^Now that's highly probable. :)

http://www.swiss-pics.ch

So, that are your pics on Google Earth :)

So, that are your pics on Google Earth :)

YES :lol::lol::lol:

I have about 3000 Pictures on Google Earth...
I drive a lot in whole Switzerland for working. Thusday until today I was:
Zürich-->Sion-->Brig-->Martigny-->Montreux-->Vevey-->Lausanne-->Geneve-->Lausanne-->Biel (Bienne)--> HOME

Nice pics, classic one of the Churfirsten.

I hope to drive here in 4 weeks :)
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/4690448.jpg

Don't forget to take pictures! :D

That's Lauterbrunnental, right?

Yes it is. It will be my 3rd time there :) (over a 12 year span).

So here is a HD Movie 720p

a Part from Zürich E60.

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/193/wrenlosdn4.jpg


Screenshot:
http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/8817/wurenlosscreemcb9.jpg

Download: http://rapidshare.com/files/132366778/E60Zuerichnachwuerenlos2.avi
Size: 195MB
Length: 7:11min
Format: AVI, DIVX 6.8, 1280X720p
Mirror: Rapidshare
Play with: VLC, MCP etc...


http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/2779/neuenhofgy5.jpg
E60 Neuenhof to Baregg tunnel
Size: 50MB
Download: http://rapidshare.com/files/132373530/E60_Neuenhof.avi
Length: 1:51min
Format: AVI, DIVX 6.8, 1280X720p
Mirror: Rapidshare
Play with: VLC, MCP etc...


E60 Baden West to Habsburg tunnel
http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/8876/badenwesttn7.jpg
Size: 60MB
Download: http://rapidshare.com/files/132377180/Badenwest.avi
Length: 4:06
Format: AVI, DIVX 6.8, 1280X720p
Mirror: Rapidshare
Play with: VLC, MCP etc...



Basel St. Jakob to Basel Badischer bahnhof:
http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/174/baselvi1.jpg
Size: 60MB
Download: http://rapidshare.com/files/132378834/basel.aviLength: 3:31
Format: AVI, DIVX 6.8, 1280X720p
Mirror: Rapidshare
Play with: VLC, MCP etc...



If you like it, I can post more videos...

I hope to drive here in 4 weeks :)

I return from Switzerland in 4 weeks. :)

You'd think? We've built for billions of euros a HSR with eg a 7km tunnel, but we can't fill a 7km gap on one of dutch busiest motorways. :nuts:

yeah, the groene hart tunnel...

I don't understand. what happened to our (europian) society?

we are spending enormous lot of money to uneconomic railway projects while we are neglecting our road network and delaying or cancelling the very economic road projects...

we are crying about the always rising oil price, but we are happily (and foolishly) making more expensive the transportation by tolling our roads (above the extremly high fuel tax) and by forcing the transport to the uneconomic railway...

are we fools?

^^ A lot of people think that public transport can take the entire transportation demand. I've seen ridiculous posts here on SSC, like people saying they want to turn a 12 lane freeway into a railway line and so on.

Roads are just as important as Railroads. You can't depend on one form of transportation.

the traffic limit of trucks will be substantially lower.

how does this truck-limit work?
you are counting the trucks on the pass and when the counter reaches the limit (in the middle of the year) you place a "no entry for trucks" sign?

or you are going to raise the tranzit toll until enough truckers choose the train?

Trucks will have to buy a sort of ticket in advance. The number of tickets will be limited and sold to the company who offer more money.

http://www.alpeninitiative.ch/e/ATB_Facts.asp

Alpine Crossing Exchange
The Alpine Crossing Exchange (ACE) is aimed at establishing an equitable distribution of a fixed number of heavy vehicle trips among the various Alpine passes and weekdays. The crossing rights will be auctioned in advance through an internet-supported exchange system. As with all limited goods and resources, the price will be fixed by demand. This way, not only will traffic jams and long waiting times for the trucks be avoided, but the population will also be protected from excessive disturbances along transalpine routes. In addition, this system will enable railway companies to become equal stakeholders in transalpine freight transport.

^^ maybe switzerland is right.

maybe we (hungary) should do the same:
- step out from the EU and impose huge tolls on transit trucks.

we are also an unavoidable (or at least hardly avoidable) transit country, it would be a nice income to the budget...

everybody says that a one tube tunnel (1TT) is much more unsafer than a two tube tunnel (2TT)...

but whats the reason?

it is true that there is a high risk of frontal collision in a 1TT while in a 2TT it is unlikely.

but the car drivers can escape easily from the 1TT by turning back and driving out. (ok, trucks cannot, truckers have to get a lift...)

but in a 2TT cars are stucked in behind an accident.
and while stucking behind an accident on an open road is no problem, in a tunnel it is extremely dangerous. (b/c of poisonous smokes of fire)

which surely would change when they would do a "mamut"-project like a second tube

if a 16km tube is "mamut" project, how would you rank a project of 214km tube* (not counting the service tubes)???

it is a real Brachiosaurus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brachiosaurus) project...


(*GBT+LBT+CBT=(57+35+15)*2=214)

Yeah that's true, but then again, who cares about € 25 on vacation?

I think a 27 euro vignette is expensive enough for generally no more than 3 hours driving through Switzerland.

so you have revised your standpoint? :)

^^ No. I mean 25/27 euro's is a price that's high enough for a couple of hours driving through Switzerland, only people will buy a vignette anyway, because on their total holiday budget, it's still a very small amount. That's why the rip-off of the Slovenian government works too.

No real alternatives, so people buy the vignette anyway. The Frejustunnel also has a ridiculous fare, hence a low number of vehicles (less that 5.000).

nowadays it´s expensive enough to build tunnels.

i think every tunnel more than 10km the politics thinks twice if the build it or not.

specially in Swiss they know, that everything they DON´T build could help preventing from international traffic. and so they have to find out (because you have to have a few transit roads) if it´s absolutly necessary or you let the traffix to other countries


btw:

a few intersting articels about tragedies in tunnels:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tauern_Road_Tunnel

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_Blanc_Tunnel

this site is f*king interesting: My No. 1

http://www.mace.manchester.ac.uk/project/research/structures/strucfire/CaseStudy/HistoricFires/InfrastructuralFires/mont.htm

^^ That's why the rip-off of the Slovenian government works too.

wow. that was a light speed answer... :nuts:

i think we (hungary) should folow Switcherland and Slovenia...

a reasonable yearly vignette would be nice for us but woud be a nice rip-off for the forigners... :banana:

(but we are EU members, Switz is not. what will brussel say?)

our yearly vignette is about 200 eur. that is too much.
but a truck can cross the country for 13eur with a one day vignette...
that is insane...

Well, they're talking about implementing a new tolling system in the Netherlands which can cost a commuter over € 1100 per year. How about that.

^^nice.
stupidity has no limit...:ohno:

I think this quote is from Einstein:

"There are two infinite things: the stupidity and the universe.
But Im not sure about the latter..."

Well, they're talking about implementing a new tolling system in the Netherlands which can cost a commuter over € 1100 per year. How about that.

sound like chaos on the other streets if they really realize it.

no matter for the few percent rich, but all other people :(

nearly one month per year work to be able to drive on the highway :nuts:

sound like chaos on the other streets if they really realize it.

nope.
there is no "other street" in NL. there are only motorways...

Exactly. That's why our motorways are so busy. However, this is about Switzerland, where the motorways are generally not that busy. I believe the most travelled section in near Zürich.

specially in Swiss they know, that everything they DON´T build could help preventing from international traffic.

nope.
"not to build" means not prevention, it means JAMs...

or the triangle, bern - basel - Zürich

a view important exits to other swiss towns are there

^^ maybe switzerland is right.

maybe we (hungary) should do the same:
- step out from the EU and impose huge tolls on transit trucks.

we are also an unavoidable (or at least hardly avoidable) transit country, it would be a nice income to the budget...

oh, you have a sort of it. Hungarian border procedures are often impossible for lorries. why - i don't know, but drivers from my firm hate to drive through Hungary because of procedures :D

^^ you are non EU members, so we can torture your truckers... :)

but we are impotent against our EU member friends, we have to let them through on our country without stopping and only for a 13 eur daily vignette... :ohno:

So switcherland has a much better position: in the middle of the EU as a non EU member they can get an enormous amount rip-off from the transit traffic...

^^ you are non EU members, so we can torture your truckers... :)


yeah :D i hope not for long :)

wow. that was a light speed answer... :nuts:Less than two minutes. :nuts:

(but we are EU members, Switz is not. what will brussel say?)Until you preside EU, you can't afford it. :D But I don't think we'll ever see Hungary presiding EU, despite the Irish saying NO. Czech Republic probably yes, but Hungary, I doubt.

or the triangle, bern - basel - Zürich

a view important exits to other swiss towns are thereThe absolutely highest AADT is west of Zurich, but it used to be east of Basel until they opened a new motorway bridge to Germany west of Rheinfelden.

Hello

Have anyone a idea, when they will renew the highway A1 between "Affoltern, Regensdorf"---->"Glattbrugg"?

The lane is very damaged on both direction. Now they have made max 100kmh limit.

Here is the highway i mean

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/9931/highwaya1wk4.th.jpg (http://img247.imageshack.us/my.php?image=highwaya1wk4.jpg)

They want to build a third lane in each direction, but the project isn't anywhere near to the building phase. But probably they won't do anything before this issue is sorted out.

Some articles about rail, road, water and service tunnels: http://www.lombardi.ch/publications/?ID=1&menu=pub

The Gotthard road tunnel will close in 2018 for about a year, or during the summer of more years, when the pass road is open. Shuttle trains will be reactivated.

Schweizer wollen zweite Gotthardröhre (http://tagesschau.sf.tv/nachrichten/archiv/2008/08/10/schweiz/schweizer_wollen_zweite_gotthardroehre)

Befragt wurden 504 Personen.

Hmm, that's not really much, but they call it representative....

Every summer and every important holiday there are several km of queues, and as usual someone call for a second tunnel.

As said, in 2020 the Gotthard tunnel will be closed for renovation, and the new rail tunnel opened freeing capacity on the old railway.

A shuttle train can carry about 50 cars.

With a train every 7.5 minutes per direction, from 7 to 21, there can be up to 224 trains or 11.200 cars.

And it is possible to divert traffic to the the San Bernardino tunnel (AADT 6200), Gran San Bernardo tunnel or Simplon Pass, or even the Gotthard Pass itself.

I have uploaded about 200 Pics from Swiss Highways:

http://www.swiss-pics.ch/thumbnails.php?album=42

Speedcam in the Middle :-)
http://www.swiss-pics.ch/albums/userpics/normal_P8274593.JPG

http://www.swiss-pics.ch/albums/userpics/normal_P8274600.JPG

http://www.swiss-pics.ch/albums/userpics/normal_P8274601.JPG

http://www.swiss-pics.ch/albums/userpics/normal_P8274669.JPG

http://www.swiss-pics.ch/albums/userpics/normal_P8274671.JPG

http://www.swiss-pics.ch/albums/userpics/normal_P8274910.JPG

http://www.swiss-pics.ch/albums/userpics/normal_P8274597.JPG

http://www.swiss-pics.ch/albums/userpics/normal_P8274636.JPG

http://www.swiss-pics.ch/albums/userpics/normal_P8274652.JPG

To see them in HQ go here: http://www.swiss-pics.ch/thumbnails.php?album=42

Hope you liked it!

^^ Love the sound barriers. Looks like a brand new road.

Swiss motorways look narrow...

Swiss motorways look narrow...


Well we have not that much place here :-)

i think you mean space ..

Nice pics, nils16! Do you perhaps know what they are building by the eastern Bern bypass (A6) close to Wankdorf? Is it a new stadium, or?

i think you mean space ..
Yes, my english is not that good...

Nice pics, nils16! Do you perhaps know what they are building by the eastern Bern bypass (A6) close to Wankdorf? Is it a new stadium, or?


Hmm, you mean may this:
http://www.daniel-libeskind.com/typo3temp/pics/445a22069b.jpg

Its called Westside (http://www.daniel-libeskind.com/projects/show-all/westside-shopping-and-leisure-centre/)

^^ No, that's in the western part of Bern, but I didn't know about it either. It will lie on the top of that tunnel apparently.

Hmm, i dont know. Im from Zürich. Im not so often in Bern.

wow, Swiss roads are ugly and so tiny.

Hmm, i dont know. Im from Zürich. Im not so often in Bern.Okay...

wow, Swiss roads are ugly and so tiny.Ugly? :sly: Can you show us an ugly Swiss road?

oh the most highways i´ve seen in switzerland have only 2 lanes per direction
they´re very narrow....

so you think small highways are ugly? :-/
thats because the average swiss guy doesnt drive hummers and people prefer travelling by train.

Some statistics: http://www.astra.admin.ch/verkehrsdaten/00299/00301/00364/index.html?lang=en (AADT)

So the busiest motorway is the A1 just west of Zürich with 112.900 vehicles a day? That's not so bad. The San Bernardino connection is really quiet, only 6.100 AADT.

wow, that number really surprices me! i didn't have idea that there are such busy motorways in Switzerland!

^ Are you kidding? Population density is almost 200 inh./km2. You can barely overtake between Zürich and Bern, for example.

That's not so bad. The San Bernardino connection is really quiet, only 6.100 AADT.

A few people know the three alternatives to the Gotthard motorway. Even if they are not motorways, they are well maintained and wide.

A few numbers about other transalpine roads:
Fréjus and Mont Blanc: AADT 5.000
Great St Bernard and Simplon: AADT 2.500
Lötschberg shuttle train: AADT 4.000 (annually: 1.6 million vehicles)
Furka shuttle train: 200.000/year (pass road closed during winter)
Gotthard: AADT 20.000 and 45.000 in a record day (and no, I don't want a second tube)
San Bernardino: AADT 6.100
Vereina shuttle train: 400.000/year (pass road closed during winter)
Brenner: AADT 40.000 (not sure)

An old article: http://www.uvek.admin.ch/dokumentation/00474/00492/index.html?lang=en&msg-id=8708

(population density is about 182 people/km2, but 2/3 of the land is mountainous thus with a low population)

^ Are you kidding? Population density is almost 200 inh./km2. You can barely overtake between Zürich and Bern, for example.

well, i have never been ther nore thinking about it so it surpriced me. i've been thinking about swiss motorways as calm and tranquill

Im little bored, so I post pics.

Every pic you can see where and when it have been taken... (I removed the car Nummers)



http://static3.bareka.com/photos/medium/13839102.jpg
GPS+HQ: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13839102

http://static3.bareka.com/photos/medium/13839030.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13839030

http://static4.bareka.com/photos/medium/13839007.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13839007

http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/13838997.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13838997

http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/13838881.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13838881

http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/13838869.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13838869

http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/13838836.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13838836

http://static3.bareka.com/photos/medium/13838470.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13838470 The sign, shows the air quality.


http://static3.bareka.com/photos/medium/13838482.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13838482


http://static4.bareka.com/photos/medium/13838459.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13838459

http://static4.bareka.com/photos/medium/13838439.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13838439


http://static3.bareka.com/photos/medium/13838434.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13838434


http://static4.bareka.com/photos/medium/13838403.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13838403


http://static3.bareka.com/photos/medium/13838378.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13838378






Aww, Panoramio have some server problems...
Tomorrow i drive Zürich-Lausanne, I take some pics if the weather is fine :-)

Yeah, Panoramio has some issues because they're migrating it onto Google servers or something.

http://static3.bareka.com/photos/medium/13838378.jpgIt was a very good thing to open that bridge for Germany. You could barely bypass Basel in rush hours.

Well, some more Pictures. Direction Zürich to Lausanne. Taken 9th September 2008. For privacy i removed all Car numbers :-)

You can click on the link under the picture. So you see the exactly position, where the pic have been taken (GPS Tagged).

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/1568/autobahnug3.jpg

http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/13993308.jpg
HQ+ GPS: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13993308

http://static4.bareka.com/photos/medium/13993311.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13993311

http://static4.bareka.com/photos/medium/13993343.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13993343

http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/13993381.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13994896

http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/13994908.jpg




http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13993381

http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/13994537.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13994537

http://static3.bareka.com/photos/medium/13994710.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13994710

http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/13994840.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13994840














http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/13993389.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13993389

http://static4.bareka.com/photos/medium/13993403.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13993403

http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/13993433.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13993433

http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/13993440.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13993440

http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/13993469.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13993469

http://static3.bareka.com/photos/medium/13993550.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13993550

http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/13993561.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13993561

http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/13993568.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13993568

http://static3.bareka.com/photos/medium/13993566.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13993566

http://static3.bareka.com/photos/medium/13993742.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13993742

http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/13993848.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13993848

http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/13993937.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13993937

http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/13993944.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13993944


http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/13994212.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13994212

http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/13994197.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13994197

http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/13994221.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13994221

http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/13994304.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13994304

http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/13994865.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13994865

http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/13994772.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13994772

http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/13994908.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13994908

http://static4.bareka.com/photos/medium/13994943.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13994943

http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/13995009.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13995009

http://static4.bareka.com/photos/medium/13995119.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13995119

http://static4.bareka.com/photos/medium/13995131.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13995131

http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/13995145.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13995145

http://static4.bareka.com/photos/medium/13995251.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13995251

http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/13995284.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13995284

http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/13995325.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13995325

http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/13995420.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13995420

http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/13995405.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13995405


http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/13995548.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13995548

http://static1.bareka.com/photos/medium/13995628.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13995628

http://static4.bareka.com/photos/medium/13995695.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13995695

http://static4.bareka.com/photos/medium/13995707.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/13995707


So that was it for now, hope you liked it.

I have many more pics... If you will see them check out on Panoramio: http://www.panoramio.com/user/162195

^^ Nice pics, a few of them aren't totally in order, hehe. ;)

Is there any map (or at least text) showing when Swiss motorways (and expressways) were built? I'm interested in that.

Hello guys!
This is my 1st post on this great forum. :banana2:

Has any of you been driving on Autoroute A16 Transjurane (Porrentruy-Delémont)? It looks very nice. link to architect (http://www.salvi-archi.ch/grands_ouvrages/a16-s3/)
link to A16 web site (http://www.a16.ch/)

Maybe anyone has some pictures taken from car?

http://www.autobahnen.ch/

Interesting site. I remember a friend of mine taking pics of the A16, but I can't find them right now, and he's in Taiwan, maybe later.

Thank you!

Hello

I made a Video. It doesn't have any music... Because google have filters to detect music, and then they block my account.

The Video show you some parts of the Alps route from South to North. You also see the San Gottardo Tunnel which is 17km long. Not the full tunnel, i cutet the video. 15min Tunnel is boring.

Lenght of the video: 15:04min
Here is the Link: http://video.google.de/videoplay?docid=4669885747864815173&hl=de
Download with Music from Rapidshare.com 100MB:
Download Rapidshare (http://rapidshare.com/files/154328819/Gotthard100MB.wmv)


Some screen shots:
http://www.pictureupload.de/originals/pictures/151008200812_vlcsnap-77147.png

http://www.pictureupload.de/originals/pictures/151008200915_vlcsnap-78177.png

http://www.pictureupload.de/originals/pictures/151008201007_vlcsnap-79085.png
if you will i can make a video with 8X speed from the whole tunnel.

Download the Video, is better quality than the online video.

Coincidentally, I was just making an article on the Dutch wegenwiki (not related to wikipedia) about the Swiss A2. Man I want to go to Switzerland so bad :)

Great video, nils! (ok, I admit, I haven't watched the video yet, I'll do it tomorrow :D:D:D)

Except for the traffic, when driving on this highway, I always felt like driving through a jungle, with rest areas being oases of civilization. :)

Nils, great video!

Here are some drawings and photos of A2 highway from architectural magazine Domus. Rino Tami was responsible for all stages of design.

Enjoy.

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/5659/rinotamiautostradan2webtq3.th.jpg (http://img124.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rinotamiautostradan2webtq3.jpg)http://img124.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/7874/rinotami0105webyg0.th.jpg (http://img124.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rinotami0105webyg0.jpg)http://img124.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/4048/rinotami0611webpz0.th.jpg (http://img522.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rinotami0611webpz0.jpg)http://img522.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/5467/rinotami1216webfa6.th.jpg (http://img110.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rinotami1216webfa6.jpg)http://img110.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/5460/rinotami1720webyz8.th.jpg (http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rinotami1720webyz8.jpg)http://img339.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/3137/rinotami2124webnb1.th.jpg (http://img239.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rinotami2124webnb1.jpg)http://img239.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif (http://g.imageshack.us/thpix.php)

Too bad they are very small. I can hardly see what's on those scans.

Yes, thanks... but I have already repaired them.

http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/zuerich/kanton/Erste-Fahrt-durch-Uetlibergtunnel-Westumfahrung-ist-auf-Kurs/story/10424164

Heres a video of the new Uetlioberg tunnel (doubled speed). It's part of the west by-pass of Zürich which opens in May 2009.

Great video! I didn't know it had been U/C for more than 12 years and that it had cost 2.85 billion francs! :nuts:

Why is there such a difference in the tunnel's illumination at 00:46? And why is San Bernardino necessary on signs at the end?

They can open the hard shoulder as 3rd lane in the tunnel!?
Why is there such a difference in the tunnel's illumination at 00:46?I think it's just for the remaining work.

And why is San Bernardino necessary on signs at the end?
San Bernardino is the second most important route to southern Switzerland (Ticcino).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Bernardino_(road_tunnel)

They can open the hard shoulder as 3rd lane in the tunnel!?
Yes it has full lane width.

Here is the full project map:
http://www.westumfahrung.ch/pages/image/plaene/size0/1100.gif

San Bernardino is the second most important route to southern Switzerland (Ticcino).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Bernardino_(road_tunnel)

Ok, I know where it is, but I just don't see why it's so important in Zurich. If you go to Bellinzona or further south, you'll use the A2, right?

If you want to go to the Gotthard route, you just drove into the wrong dirction, because thats on the other side of the tunnel. And I suppose St.Gotthard is signed in the other direction. The thing is, that the A3 which is signed here leads into direction Chur, San Bernardino. Of course other cities would be possible as well, like Sargans (Where the A3 ends and joins the A13). The San Bernardino is a good alternative in times where the A2 is overcrowded.

Isn't that the right direction for A2? (of course you'd get off the A3 very soon) That new motorway, which will connect Zürich to Luzern, isn't built yet, right?

Here is the full project map:
http://www.westumfahrung.ch/pages/image/plaene/size0/1100.gif
That means that whole project with all three tunnels and connecting motorways costs 2,85 billion frank and not just mentioned tunnel?

Isn't that the right direction for A2? (of course you'd get off the A3 very soon) That new motorway, which will connect Zürich to Luzern, isn't built yet, right?

No the video goes from west to east. Through the left tube, don't know why you will never drive throught this tube in this direction. Anyway what you see at the end of the video is the intersection Dreieick-Zürich-Süd. The A4 to Luzern/Gotthard is not ready yet,it will open in the first half year of 2010. This May only the West-Bypass A3 will open.

Edit: I now also know the answer for the lighting question.
As the car in the video drives the wrong way throught the tunnel, the lightning at the end is actually the lightning at the beginning. And in Swiss tunnels (also in many others) the beginning of every tunnel has more lightning because of the slower eye adaption to darkness.

That means that whole project with all three tunnels and connecting motorways costs 2,85 billion frank and not just mentioned tunnel?
2,85 billion franks is for the Westumfahrung. This means 2 of the 3 tunnels. On the map its the north-western and the eastern branch. Also there are many new streets, bridges and tunnels that have been build for access streets (the thin red lines).

No the video goes from west to east.

I already knew that. :lol: Still, to me San Bernardino looks like an unnecessary destination there, but ok, there are only two destinations anyway.

The sign isn't supposed to show you where you should go. It just tells you where you end up, if you drive in its direction. And if you drive on that line with the sign San Bernardino, you will end up at the San Bernardino (At least if you never leave the motorway). Also San Bernardino is the often used in radio messages like: "The St.Gotthard road has 10 km of waiting lines, please use the San Bernardino route".

Ah ok, I forgot to take that into account.

Does anyone know any good reason why the road #10 (A10?) is signed as motorway southeast of Bern, between Muri (A6) and Rüfenacht? It's just 1+1 with hard shoulders.

What do you mean? Just because the signs are green (I suppose they are), that doesn't necessarly mean that it's a motorway, all "Schnellstraßen" (where slow vehicles like bikes or tractors aren't allowed; I'm not sure about the correct Swiss term) have green signs. (Another one would be the first kilometres from Spiez to Frutigen on the Lötschberg route or the San Bernardino route).

No, this one even has the motorway sign.

^^Germany has some 1+1 Autobahns as well (A60)

That's not a motorway then.

Sure it is. Isn't a ramp between two longer sections of motorway also a motorway, i.e. motorway rules don't apply? (Stopping, parking, backing etc.)

Here is the full project map:
http://www.westumfahrung.ch/pages/image/plaene/size0/1100.gif

and what about the 4a -> 3 connection?
there is a 4-5km gap in the network (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=hu&geocode=&q=z%C3%BCrich&sll=34.07072,-118.405323&sspn=0.097119,0.142994&ie=UTF8&ll=47.224348,8.59354&spn=0.076244,0.21904&z=13)...

^^ There are hills over there, I don't know, if there will ever be a motorway there. (4× "there" :nuts:)

Sure it is. Isn't a ramp between two longer sections of motorway also a motorway, i.e. motorway rules don't apply? (Stopping, parking, backing etc.)A short ramp, yes, not several kms.

Does anyone know any good reason why the road #10 (A10?) is signed as motorway southeast of Bern, between Muri (A6) and Rüfenacht? It's just 1+1 with hard shoulders.
It's actually quite strange, there should be "Autostrasse" signs on it!

and what about the 4a -> 3 connection?
The Hirzeltunnel was also proposed several times, but if it ever will be built it will only be a 2 lane tunnel(1+1). It is also in the Verkehrsrichtplan of the canton Zürich as 2+2. http://www.gis.zh.ch/gb4/richtplan/gb.asp?app=RiVkrRev (This is a map that shows all possible future road and train projects in the canton Zürich, you have to zoom in to see it, Red=Roads, Green Rail)
It is not part of the national motorway network!