THE SAN GOTTARDO HIGHWAY AND THE NEW ROAD TUNNEL

LA VIA DEL SAN GOTTARDO E IL NUOVO TRAFORO STRA

This article briefly reviews the design and construction of the San Gottardo Road Tunnel which was opened to traffic on 5 September 1980. Its total length of 16918 M comprises 16322 M excavated and 596 M constructed as artificial tunnel. During excavation the sliding floor, a 241 M long steel platform advanced by hydraulic power, was used for thefirst time in Europe. The ventilation system can provide upto 3160 cubic metres of air per second, which would allow for a total of 1800 vehicles. At peak hours with a speed limit of 60 km/hr there would be about 500 vehicles in the tunnel at the same time. In conditions of reduced traffic the draught from the shafts would be sufficient to ensure A natural change of air. Variable four-stage lighting (for energy conservation) is installed on the east wall of the tunnel. The total cost of the San Gottardo is 686 million Swiss francs, and 18 people, including 13 Italians, died during its construction. (TRRL)

• Corporate Authors:

  Casa Editrice la fiaccola

  Via Carlo Ravizza 62
  Milano,   Italy 
• Authors:
  • Centolani, G
• Publication Date: 1980-11-12

Language

• Italian

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 951-961
• Serial:
  • Vie e Trasporte
  • Volume: 49
  • Publisher: Casa Editrice la fiaccola

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Construction; Construction management; Design; Lighting systems; Street lighting; Structural design; Tunneling; Tunnels; Ventilation systems
• Uncontrolled Terms: Tunnel design
• Geographic Terms: Switzerland
• Old TRIS Terms: Tunnel lighting
• ITRD Terms: 3655: Construction; 9011: Design (overall design); 545: Lighting (street); 8110: Switzerland; 3374: Tunnel; 3392: Ventilation
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Highways; I25: Design of Tunnels; I54: Construction of Tunnels;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00341076
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Report/Paper Numbers: No. 472/473
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 22 1981 12:00AM