St. Gotthard tunnel

For the village of Goschenen, where there are to be found north portals of this tunnel (railway tunnel as well as the actual road tunnel) and in the village of Airolo (where there are placed both south portals), there was a historical moment, which had to be celebrated in suitable way. Hans Hurliman, a member of Swiss Society Council, wrote into so called Golden Book of the community of Airolo, as follows: „It is an unforgettable day, a day of honour for all who was present! Small Switzerland built the biggest tunnel for cars of the world!“ Nevertheless, now the first place is held by another country: in 2000, there was terminated so called Laerdal Tunel in Norway, being 7,6 kms longer - its length makes 24,5 kms. Anyway, back to Switzerland. The exit of north railway portal is placed near to the town of Goschenen, in an altitude of 1106 m of sea level, and the exit of southern railway portal at the town of Airolo is situated in an altitude of 1142 of sea level.

Gotthard, hardly rough mountain massif in the centre of Swiss South Alps, is situated directly on line, connecting in shortest way great culture and economic centres of North Europe with Italy. In past, the ways were effected throughout Gotthard Pass (Passo San Gottardo). Nevertheless, 125 years ago, in 1882, there was started an operation in railway tunnel. Its length - respectable 15 kms - was noted as the third longest tunnel in Europe. In 1970, there was started the tunnel construction. Main tube was stroke out from both parts at the same time, and paralelly, in retreat of 30 metres - a safety galley was made. Two drilling machines (weight 52 tonnes) drilled in this rocky massif holes for explosives. The tunnel was stroke out by means of shooting off (total quantity of consumed dynamite made 2800 tonns). Laser ray showed exact direction where the tunnel would be stroke, so that both working groups met in the middle of the massif, just in exact place. This was most fascinating moment for all workers. Greatest technical troubles were caused by homogeneous geological composition of this mountain massif, composed not only from granite, but also from variegated lines of various material stratta, including dangerous clefts and loose minerals. Despite all numerous troubles and  traps, the road tunnel was open for first unpatient drivers in 1980. With its artificial „front-tunnel space“, the building has total length of 16,9 kms (for comparison: the lonegst road tunnel in Czech Republic, Panenská - Virgin Tunnel – is 2115 m long, and another road tunnel - Blanka - which is being built now - would be 5502 metres long). On each 250 m of road tunnel distance, there are placed so called protective spaces - as a connection between main tunnel and safety gallery, which could be used, in case of danger, as exit way. Over road space, there are let canals, bringing fresh air and taking away exhaust gas. Except of this, another air-shaft holes, long 300-900 metres - had to be stroke out. Anyway, the pasengers could hardly note a control supervision and safety system let by means of computers (quite surprising from technical point of view) of the whole tunnel. The drive throughout the tunnel takes 8 minutes approx.

Text: Jakub Štantejský and Monumente der Welt

Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Hellmaster ru, Audrius Meskauskas, Daniel Schwen, Cooper.ch, č.2, Les Meloures, Klaus Foehl