04.05.2023

A1 expansion northern Zurich bypass

On Saturday, April 15, 2023, more than 20,000 visitors took the opportunity to participate in the «tunnel festival» and inspected the new third tube of the Gubrist motorway tunnel  Bicycles were available for transiting the whole length of the tunnel and were in constant use from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in both directions. Many guests also enjoyed the tunnel atmosphere by taking a ride on the rubber-wheeled sightseeing train. In addition, the program included a show presented by the emergency services, tours of the huge control centers and a wide range of catering options.

Early on Thursday morning, April 20, 2023, the third tube of the Gubrist tunnel was commissioned. Westbound traffic has been flowing through the new tunnel tube since shortly before 4 a.m. As part of the drainage, surfacing and foundation work has not yet been completed, some construction space is still required in Weiningen. Therefore, for the time being, only two lanes are available for traffic in the new tube. The official opening with the release of the third lane will take place on July 3, 2023 in the presence of Federal Councillor A. Rösti.

03.02.2023

A1 expansion northern Zurich bypass

The new third tube of the Gubrist tunnel will start operating after a "silent opening" during the night of April 22, 2023. A major public festival will take place one week earlier on April 15, 2023. The formal opening event with Federal Councillor A. Rösti is envisaged for July 4, 2023, when all three westbound lanes will be available to road users.

08.09.2022

A1 expansion northern Zurich bypass

The commissioning of the third tube of the Gubrist tunnel has been postponed until spring 2023 due to the current global economic situation (Covid).

During the night of April 22/23, 2023, there will be a "silent opening" of the third tube to regular traffic. A public festival and the authorities’ event are expected to take place in mid-April 2023.

In early May 2023, the renovation work of the existing second Gubrist tube will start. Westbound traffic (direction Bern) will be accomodated on two lanes in the new third tube, while eastbound traffic (direction St. Gallen) will occupy two lanes in the first tube.

20.06.2022

Maintenance project Hagnau – Augst

The GS-DETEC (General secretary of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communication) has approved the "Operations Center South East" project. No complaints were received against this decision. Thus, details concerning the construction process of the new operations center next to the east portal of the Schweizerhalle tunnel are now being planned. Procurement of services is expected to take place in 2023.

News
04.05.2023
A1 expansion northern Zurich bypass
03.02.2023
A1 expansion northern Zurich bypass
08.09.2022
A1 expansion northern Zurich bypass
20.06.2022
Maintenance project Hagnau – Augst
Canton of Bern

N5 BIEL BYPASS

The project N5 Biel Bypass closes one of the last remaining gaps in the Swiss motorways network between Solothurn / Luterbach and Yverdon-les-Bains. In addition, it connects the N5 to the motorway N16 Transjurane and the motorway T6 Biel-Bern. The new bypass is an important development at supraregional level and intends to relieve Biel of its high traffic volume.

The N5 Biel Bypass looks back on a decades-long project history. The bypass is divided into two sections, an eastern branch and a western one. The eastern branch, called ‘Ostast’, was commissioned and put into service in October 2017. The western part of the bypass project is currently still in the procedural stage of project design and approval thereof. The three General Projects ‘Umfahrung Vingelz’, ‘Westast’ and ‘Zubringer rechtes Bielerseeufer’, all approved by the Swiss Federal Council, were merged for the subsequent planning stage ‘Ausführungsprojekt’. Studies of various options yielded solutions for the individual sections and elements of the project, ensuring that the requirements and needs of participants and affected parties are met to best advantage. Early in 2017, the planning approval procedure started with the publication of the official draft plans.


R+R is providing assistance in planning, project design and execution of the N5 Biel Bypass in its capacity as support unit for the overall project management team. R+R‘s main tasks are to advise and support the Cantonal Department of Civil Engineering in developing conceptual and administrative foundations, as well as to assist the project management team in strategic considerations and decision-making. This includes formulating objectives, developing project structures, defining processes and organisational aspects, together with economic investigations and legal assessments, all in close cooperation with the client. Further key activities lie in procuring external planning services, handling clarifications on issues regarding traffic operations and safety, and assisting in the process of finding and implementing project optimisation measures. In the context of the planning approval procedure, R+R supports the Department of Civil Engineering in processing objections and reservations.

Key data

Client
Canton of Bern

Processing period
since 2000

Project costs
approx. 3 billion CHF

Project type
Road

Services
Project Management

Fields of expertise
Strategic Planning
Project Planning and Organization
Project Controlling
Procurement
Professional Support
Communication Support

Downloads
Project sheet

Contact

Renato Käppeli

Consultant, member of the managing board