Construction of the Ceneri tunnel

1 June 2006
A tunnel for the tunnel
A tunnel for the tunnel

An access tunnel more than two kilometres in length is dug near Sigirino to allow construction of the Ceneri tunnel. The conveyor belt is used to transport the excavated rock. (2005, Alptransit Gotthard Ltd)

Construction of the Ceneri Base Tunnel officially begins on 2 June 2006 in Camorino near Bellinzona. Tunnelling proceeds from Vigana and from Vezia near Lugano as well as from Sigirino. For safety reasons, two single-track tunnels are built. The breakthrough in the west and east bores is achieved in 2016. The 15.4-kilometre tunnel is scheduled to open in 2020, heralding a new era for regional transport in Ticino.

« A fundamental consequence of the chosen strategy is that cost targets are now being prioritised over deadlines. »

Federal Office of Transport, Concluding report on Ceneri compensation planning by the Infrastructure division, p. 12, 21.11.2006
15.4 kilometres

length of the Ceneri Base Tunnel

39.8 kilometres

total length of the Ceneri tunnel system

2016 year

Ceneri Base Tunnel breakthrough on 21 January

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