San Bernardino (road tunnel)
Encyclopedia
The San Bernardino road tunnel is a road tunnel
on the A13
motorway/expressway in southeastern Switzerland
, completed in 1967 and replacing the San Bernardino Pass
road. It begins near the town of San Bernardino, Graubünden
and ends 6.6 km (4.1 mi) north in Hinterrhein
.
The speed limit of 80 km/h (50 mph) is enforced by means of speed-check cameras. This road tunnel is considerably less prone to traffic jams than the St. Gotthard Tunnel
.
The San Bernardino Tunnel is part of the A13 as a single carriageway freeway and therefore passes through one bore without a central physical structure. As there is only one lane per direction, overtaking
(passing other vehicles) inside the tunnel is not permitted.
N13 (today A13), between the villages of Hinterrhein
and San Bernardino. The tunnel connected Eastern Switzerland
with the Canton of Ticino, and is the second most important after the Gotthard Alpine crossing for freight and private transport in Switzerland. At the time of planning the current traffic density was not yet clear. From today's perspective, the roadway is very tight, and the ventilation systems did not meet modern requirements. Separate emergency-escape tunnels did not exist. The San Bernardino route serves the international area as an escape route to the A2 (particularly after the accidental, temporary closure of the Gotthard tunnel in 2001), although the route climbs to 8%, close to Wendekehren and the narrow tunnel is unsuitable for heavy vehicles. The corresponding pressures had necessitated a renewal of the tunnel, and the refurbishment started in 1991, was completed in 2006. The following modifications were made:
The total construction costs amounted to approximately CHF
236 million (approximately 148 million Euros).
The Mason valley, one of the Italian-speaking southern valleys of Grisons, has since the opening of the tunnel, throughout the year on a secure server with the rest of the canton. However, the pass is open only in summer.
The old name "Vogelberg" may refer to the migratory birds who pass by here every year in large flocks. These have now also discovered the tunnel as a 'shortcut'. Sometimes, the traffic must be stopped so that the birds find their way undisturbed.
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
on the A13
A13 (Switzerland)
The A13 is a motorway, at times an Autostrasse , which runs from St. Margrethen in northeastern Switzerland through to Ascona in southern Switzerland, crossing the main chain of the Alps in the Grisons area. It is the southern half of European route E43.- Construction :The A13 started life as a...
motorway/expressway in southeastern Switzerland
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....
, completed in 1967 and replacing the San Bernardino Pass
San Bernardino Pass
San Bernardino Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting the Hinterrhein and the Mesolcina valleys between Thusis and Bellinzona . Located in the far eastern side of the Western Alps it is not to be confused with the Great St. Bernard Pass and the Little St. Bernard Pass...
road. It begins near the town of San Bernardino, Graubünden
San Bernardino, Graubünden
San Bernardino is a mountainous village in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It is the southern entry point to the San Bernardino tunnel, that complemented the road over the San Bernardino Pass in 1967, opening a new all-year-round road to crossing the alps.The village is part of the...
and ends 6.6 km (4.1 mi) north in Hinterrhein
Hinterrhein, Switzerland
-External links:...
.
The speed limit of 80 km/h (50 mph) is enforced by means of speed-check cameras. This road tunnel is considerably less prone to traffic jams than the St. Gotthard Tunnel
Gotthard Road Tunnel
The St. Gotthard Tunnel in Switzerland runs from Göschenen in the Canton of Uri at its northern portal, to Airolo in Ticino to the south, and is just under in length below the St. Gotthard Pass...
.
The San Bernardino Tunnel is part of the A13 as a single carriageway freeway and therefore passes through one bore without a central physical structure. As there is only one lane per direction, overtaking
Overtaking
Overtaking or passing is the act of one vehicle going past another slower moving vehicle, travelling in the same direction, on a road. The lane used for overtaking another vehicle is almost always a lane further from the road shoulder — that is, to the left in places that drive on the right,...
(passing other vehicles) inside the tunnel is not permitted.
Safety concerns
A major tunnel fire between France and Italy in 1999 triggered a general safety review of road tunnels in several countries including Switzerland. In September 2007, the San Bernardino Tunnel saw the completion of a major safety upgrade. Lighting has been increased and become more evenly diffused, with a corresponding improvement in visibility. Particular care has been taken with the visibility of access points to the reworked escape tunnel, minimizing the risk of escape routes becoming obscured by smoke in the event of a major conflagration.History
In 1967, the 6.6 kilometres (4.1 mi) long San Bernardino Tunnel was opened as part of the National RoadNational 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...
N13 (today A13), between the villages of Hinterrhein
Hinterrhein
Hinterrhein can refer to:* Hinterrhein , a tributary of the Rhine* Hinterrhein, Switzerland, a municipality* Hinterrhein , the district including that Swiss municipality...
and San Bernardino. The tunnel connected Eastern Switzerland
Eastern Switzerland
Eastern Switzerland is the common name of the region situated to the north of Glarus Alps, with the cantons of Schaffhausen, Thurgau, St. Gallen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerrhoden and Glarus...
with the Canton of Ticino, and is the second most important after the Gotthard Alpine crossing for freight and private transport in Switzerland. At the time of planning the current traffic density was not yet clear. From today's perspective, the roadway is very tight, and the ventilation systems did not meet modern requirements. Separate emergency-escape tunnels did not exist. The San Bernardino route serves the international area as an escape route to the A2 (particularly after the accidental, temporary closure of the Gotthard tunnel in 2001), although the route climbs to 8%, close to Wendekehren and the narrow tunnel is unsuitable for heavy vehicles. The corresponding pressures had necessitated a renewal of the tunnel, and the refurbishment started in 1991, was completed in 2006. The following modifications were made:
- lowering the bottom of the centre channel;
- renovation of the drainage system (separate system) and the line channels;
- renewal of electromechanical equipment;
- operational and fire ventilation adapted to today's needs;
- creating an emergency escape tunnel;
- demolition and reconstruction of the roadway construction;
- renewal of cladding panels;
- repair, while maintaining the traffic flow.
The total construction costs amounted to approximately CHF
Swiss franc
The franc is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein; it is also legal tender in the Italian exclave Campione d'Italia. Although not formally legal tender in the German exclave Büsingen , it is in wide daily use there...
236 million (approximately 148 million Euros).
The Mason valley, one of the Italian-speaking southern valleys of Grisons, has since the opening of the tunnel, throughout the year on a secure server with the rest of the canton. However, the pass is open only in summer.
The old name "Vogelberg" may refer to the migratory birds who pass by here every year in large flocks. These have now also discovered the tunnel as a 'shortcut'. Sometimes, the traffic must be stopped so that the birds find their way undisturbed.