A8 motorway (Switzerland)
Encyclopedia
The A8 motorway, an Autobahn in central Switzerland
, is a divided highway connecting the Bernese Oberland
and the Innerschweiz
. It is part of the National Road
N8. For the Canton of Obwalden
, it is the lifeline that has allowed the settling of industrial firms in this historically predominantly agricultural region. Via the A8, speedy connections to the major economic centers in the Mittelland
and the north-south transit axis A2
are now possible. For tourists, A8 opens up in the opposite direction: the large ski resort
s in the Bernese Oberland and the tourism regions Brünig and Interlaken
.
to Interlaken, passing the former Mystery Park and continues along the southern shore of Lake Brienz
for Brienz BE, where it winds its way on up to the Brünig pass.
the north side of the pass extends down to Lungern
, where a 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) long bypass tunnel is currently under construction (scheduled completion 2012). It continues parallel to the Lungerersee
lake shoreline until the hamlet of Kaiserstuhl OW
and then with a series of steep switchbacks drops down to Giswil
. A 2.1 km long road tunnel, opened in Oct 2004, bypasses the village, considerably reducing the through-traffic and sparing travellers the long wait at grade level crossing of the Bruenigbahn in the village center. Next, just a few hundred meters after the Giswil tunnel comes the Zollhouse tunnel, a 417m Cut-and-cover long stretch that straightens out a narrow section of road next to the Sarnen Lake (due to open in mid 2010). A few hunded meter further comes the portal to the next bypass tunnel, that of Sachseln
, which, with its just over 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) length, is one of the longer single bore road tunnels in Switzerland. After the tunnel is Sarnen
, where the road is expanded to a 4 lane divided highway. Built over a former military airstrip (along with bridge), it serves as a straight highway to Alpnach
, while ahead Mount Pilatus rises. Finally, the road follows the edge of the Alpnachersee lake along the Lopper Tunnel
portal. Via an elaborate series of sub-tunnels inside the mountain, this connects in both north and south directions with the A2
enabling travel north to Luzern and Germany beyond as well as south towards the Gotthard and Italy. The ability to turn off the A2 onto the A8 in the northbound direction was only added with the construction of the new Kirchenwald tunnel and a 2km long single lane connecting tunnel (which turns off the A2 inside the mountain, loops over the top of the main A2 tunnel before emerging parallel to the A8 Lopper portal.
bypass tunnel and the Zollhouse tunnel (opening mid-2010). In planning is another tunnel, which will link the Giswil tunnel up to Kaiserstuhl. A Bruenigpass tunnel has been under consideration for decades but is not currently part of the official long term planning due in part to concerns about increasing the quantity of heavy goods traffic from Bern along the route.
The following are planned or under consideration:
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, is a divided highway connecting the Bernese Oberland
Bernese Oberland
The Bernese Oberland is the higher part of the canton of Bern, Switzerland, in the southern end of the canton: The area around Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and the valleys of the Bernese Alps .The flag of the Bernese Oberland consists of a black eagle in a gold field The Bernese Oberland (Bernese...
and the Innerschweiz
Central Switzerland
Central Switzerland is the region of the Alpine foothills geographically the heart and historically the origin of Switzerland, with the cantons of Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Lucerne and Zug....
. It is part of the National Road
National Road
The National Road or Cumberland Road was the first major improved highway in the United States to be built by the federal government. Construction began heading west in 1811 at Cumberland, Maryland, on the Potomac River. It crossed the Allegheny Mountains and southwestern Pennsylvania, reaching...
N8. For the Canton of Obwalden
Obwalden
Obwalden is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the centre of Switzerland. The population is 33,997 of which 4,043 are foreigners. Its capital is Sarnen. The canton contains the geographical centre of Switzerland.-History:...
, it is the lifeline that has allowed the settling of industrial firms in this historically predominantly agricultural region. Via the A8, speedy connections to the major economic centers in the Mittelland
Mittelland
Mittelland may refer to*The Swiss plateau *The former name of the municipality Barleben, in Ohrekreis, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany*The immense crater created by British explosives on the German island of Heligoland...
and the north-south transit axis A2
A2 (Switzerland)
The A2 is a motorway in Switzerland. It forms Switzerland's main north-south axis from Basel to Chiasso, meandering with a slight drift toward the east....
are now possible. For tourists, A8 opens up in the opposite direction: the large ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
s in the Bernese Oberland and the tourism regions Brünig and Interlaken
Interlaken
Interlaken is a municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the Canton of Bern in Switzerland, a well-known tourist destination in the Bernese Oberland.-History:...
.
Route
The A8 provides a scenic route to the Lake ThunLake Thun
Lake Thun is an Alpine lake in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland. It took its name from the city of Thun, on its northern shore.Lake Thun's approximately 2,500 km² large catchment area frequently causes local flooding after heavy rainfalls...
to Interlaken, passing the former Mystery Park and continues along the southern shore of Lake Brienz
Lake Brienz
Lake Brienz is a lake just north of the Alps, in the Canton of Berne in Switzerland. The lake took its name from the village Brienz on its northern shore. Interlaken and the villages Matten and Unterseen lie to the south west of the lake. The shores are steep, and there is almost no shallow water...
for Brienz BE, where it winds its way on up to the Brünig pass.
the north side of the pass extends down to Lungern
Lungern
Lungern is a municipality in the canton of Obwalden in Switzerland. Lungerersee is located within the municipality.-Geography: The village of Lungern lies above sea level in the highest part of the canton of Obwalden, on the lake of Lungern and at the foot of the Brünig Pass...
, where a 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) long bypass tunnel is currently under construction (scheduled completion 2012). It continues parallel to the Lungerersee
Lungerersee
The Lungerersee is a small natural lake in Obwalden, Switzerland which is named after the town Lungern on its shore. It is used as reservoir....
lake shoreline until the hamlet of Kaiserstuhl OW
Kaiserstuhl, Switzerland
Kaiserstuhl is a municipality in the district of Zurzach in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. The small town is listed as a heritage site of national significance.-History:...
and then with a series of steep switchbacks drops down to Giswil
Giswil
Giswil is a municipality in the canton of Obwalden in Switzerland.-Geography:Giswil has an area, , of . Of this area, 35.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 53.3% is forested...
. A 2.1 km long road tunnel, opened in Oct 2004, bypasses the village, considerably reducing the through-traffic and sparing travellers the long wait at grade level crossing of the Bruenigbahn in the village center. Next, just a few hundred meters after the Giswil tunnel comes the Zollhouse tunnel, a 417m Cut-and-cover long stretch that straightens out a narrow section of road next to the Sarnen Lake (due to open in mid 2010). A few hunded meter further comes the portal to the next bypass tunnel, that of Sachseln
Sachseln
Sachseln is a municipality in the canton of Obwalden in Switzerland.-Geography:Sachseln has an area, , of . Of this area, 45.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while 39.4% is forested...
, which, with its just over 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) length, is one of the longer single bore road tunnels in Switzerland. After the tunnel is Sarnen
Sarnen
Sarnen is the capital of the canton of Obwalden situated on the shores of Lake Sarnen , Switzerland. It has a population of just under 10,000 and is surrounded by countryside and mountains. Sarnen is located 20 km south of Lucerne.- History :...
, where the road is expanded to a 4 lane divided highway. Built over a former military airstrip (along with bridge), it serves as a straight highway to Alpnach
Alpnach
Alpnach is a village in the canton of Obwalden in Switzerland.-Geography:Alpnach has an area, , of . Of this area, 32.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 54.1% is forested...
, while ahead Mount Pilatus rises. Finally, the road follows the edge of the Alpnachersee lake along the Lopper Tunnel
Lopper Tunnel
The Lopper Tunnel is a tunnel in Switzerland, and forms part of the Autostrasse A8.The tunnel is 1,562 metres long and has two lanes . There is no central reservation.It lies in central Switzerland....
portal. Via an elaborate series of sub-tunnels inside the mountain, this connects in both north and south directions with the A2
A2 (Switzerland)
The A2 is a motorway in Switzerland. It forms Switzerland's main north-south axis from Basel to Chiasso, meandering with a slight drift toward the east....
enabling travel north to Luzern and Germany beyond as well as south towards the Gotthard and Italy. The ability to turn off the A2 onto the A8 in the northbound direction was only added with the construction of the new Kirchenwald tunnel and a 2km long single lane connecting tunnel (which turns off the A2 inside the mountain, loops over the top of the main A2 tunnel before emerging parallel to the A8 Lopper portal.
Transportation
The A8 is the only east-west connection in the region that is open year round, and hence it has heavy traffic. Except in the Interlaken area and Sarnen, where it is four lanes, it is mostly an Autostrasse road (wider, with hard shoulders and designed for 100km/h speeds), however the Brünigpass section just a normal pass road (80km/h speed limit although the practical limit is considerably less in sections). Development projects are underway in Lungern (Bypass Tunnel, opening 2012) and between the SachselnSachseln
Sachseln is a municipality in the canton of Obwalden in Switzerland.-Geography:Sachseln has an area, , of . Of this area, 45.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while 39.4% is forested...
bypass tunnel and the Zollhouse tunnel (opening mid-2010). In planning is another tunnel, which will link the Giswil tunnel up to Kaiserstuhl. A Bruenigpass tunnel has been under consideration for decades but is not currently part of the official long term planning due in part to concerns about increasing the quantity of heavy goods traffic from Bern along the route.
Major engineering works
The following are major construction projects underway along A8:- Umfahrungstunnel Zollhouse, a bypass tunnel
- Umfahrungstunnel Lungern, a bypass tunnel
The following are planned or under consideration:
- Giswil - Kaiserstuhl tunnel
- Bruenigpass tunnel (not currently an official project)
Junction list
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External links
- Nationalstrasse A8 Website of the Canton of Obwalden
- Fertigstellungsabschnitte A8 Obwalden/Nidwalden Website of the Bundesamtes für Strassen (ASTRA)
- Photoseries A8 on website Autobahnen.ch