At its meeting on 11 November 2020, the Federal Council approved the general project for the Basel Rhine tunnel. The new tunnel will relieve the frequently congested A2/A3 between the Hagnau and Wiese junctions. The cost of the project amounts to approximately EUR 2.18 billion (2.36 billion Swiss francs), with works scheduled to start in 2029.

On the Basel Eastern bypass between Hagnau and Wiese there is often congestion, accidents are frequent and alternative traffic is a strain on the urban transport network. The Rhine tunnel is therefore part of the Strategic Development Programme (STEP) National Road 2030, which aims to concentrate traffic on the national roads, relieve the urban road network and increase traffic safety. It also provides an alternative route for through traffic in the event of disruptions.

The Rhine tunnel comprises of a two-lane tube in each direction: The tube in the direction of France/Germany begins at the Birsfelden junction. At the Birsfelden feeder road, one additional lane will be provided for each direction. The tunnel ends north of the Badischer Bahnhof station. There the lanes connect to the existing bridge structures in the direction of France (A3 North Bypass) and Germany (A2 East Bypass/ border bridge). The access to the Rhine tunnel from France (A3 North bypass) begins at the Dreirosenbrücke. The Klybeck exit is used as a connection to the Rhine tunnel. This exit is part of the construction of the North bypass but was never put into operation. From Germany, a new exit ramp will be built at the existing border bridge (A2 East Bypass)

The construction time for the Rhine tunnel in Basel is around 10 years. Construction is scheduled to start in 2029, depending on the prioritisation of the extension projects by the Parliament in the context of the STEP National Road and on the duration of the approval procedure.

For further information please click ch/113 for the tunnelbuilder archive and visit https://www.admin.ch/gov/de.  46/20.