High-speed approach to the Gotthard Base Tunnel

The northern access project comprised the opened railway track between Altdorf and Erstfeld, with all of the necessary related engineering structures, including six underpasses up to 75 metres long, five bridge structures with a span of up to 21 metres and numerous culverts and retaining walls. This was a large-scale project with a construction volume of around CHF 380 million (excluding railway technology). Unlike in a tunnel, the greatest challenge here did not involve geology, but the numerous demands on the heavily used but limited space in which the infrastructure was to be created. Railway operations on the directly adjacent main line needed to be maintained throughout the construction period, and around 2.3 million tonnes of construction material had to be stored temporarily in a limited space and made available in a timely manner.

High environmental demands

The accompanying environmental measures were equally challenging, with the soil needing to be carefully removed and stored at a temporary location. Even before the construction phase was complete, alternative habitats were created for rare species and bodies of water restored. A series of structures was created in order to enable small animals to cross the tracks safely.