Transport
Gotthard Pass to close for winter on Thursday
The Gotthard Pass will close to traffic for winter at 8am on Thursday, November 5, between Hospental in Uri and Airolo in Ticino. The Schöllenen walking and cycling route has already closed, while the Susten and Furka passes are also shut for the season.
The Gotthard Pass road closes at 8am on Thursday, November 5, cutting the seasonal route between Hospental in Uri and Airolo in Ticino. The Federal Roads Office (ASTRA) said the winter closure is due to weather conditions and safety concerns.
The closure marks the end of this year’s road access across the pass. Until Thursday morning, the existing overnight restriction remains in place: traffic is barred from 6pm to 8am. After the winter closure takes effect, the pass road will be shut to traffic for the season.
Close the Schöllenen Route
The Schöllenen walking and cycling route has already closed. ASTRA announced the closure on Tuesday, saying the route had been shut since Monday. The decision was agreed with the Uri Cantonal Office for the Operation of National Roads, known as AfBN.
The Schöllenen route runs through the same Alpine region as the Gotthard corridor. Its closure means walkers and cyclists have lost access before the pass road enters its winter shutdown. The overnight road restriction remains in force until the Thursday morning closure.
Track Which Passes Remain Open
The Gotthard joins the Susten and Furka passes in winter closure. All three routes are shut for the season, according to the announcement. The closures affect key crossings in central Switzerland as colder conditions set in across the Alps.
Two other Alpine passes in Uri remain open to traffic: the Oberalp and Klausen. The Uri Department of Public Works said they would stay open as normal until further notice. Their status is separate from the winter closures on the Gotthard, Susten and Furka.
Check Routes Across Uri
The Oberalp and Klausen remain the open Alpine crossings in Uri for now. Their roads are operating normally until further notice, while the Gotthard, Susten and Furka are closed for winter. The situation places the Thursday Gotthard closure within a wider seasonal shift across the region’s mountain routes.
For travellers, the immediate change comes at 8am on November 5, when the road between Hospental and Airolo closes. The Schöllenen route is already unavailable to walkers and cyclists, and the overnight road restriction remains in effect up to the closure.