Work in Mendrisio, in preparation for the queue-free link road

There is a traffic revolution taking place along one of the busiest sections in Canton Ticino, especially for anyone coming from, or heading to the border with Italy. This revolution will involve the town of Mendrisio, where the preliminary work has begun, to reorganise the motorway junction. The aim of the work, which has been planned for a long time, is to improve traffic management, by dividing the junction to Mendrisio and the link road between the A2 and the Stabio-Gaggiolo highway (the SPA 394). In particular, this project regards the Mendrisio junction (Chiasso-Mendrisio section) and includes: the creation of a supplementary interchange lane in both directions along the section of motorway concerned; the alteration of the A2 entrance and exit, in Mendrisio, with the creation of two new roundabouts (before the bridge that leads to Fox Town); the creation of a new entrance from the SPA 394 northbound on the A2; the creation of the exit to the SPA 394 from A2 North; the construction of two new roundabouts, in Tana and San Giovanni; and, finally, the demolition of the existing routes. The work has been commissioned by the Federal Road Office, which estimates that it will be completed in 2017.

The work is only in the preliminary phase of preparing the areas of the road yard, near Tana, where most of the main work will be carried out, and where the logistical installations will be located. The main work will include laying the foundation of the central reservation and of the side enlargement of the highway, to facilitate future management of the traffic during the main phases of the work; the construction of a temporary bridge near the existing Tana viaduct; enlargement of the transformer room near the junction, to satisfy the new needs of the electromechanical plants; and the support work on the South-North carriageway.

The work plan establishes: the conclusion of the initial phase, by the end of 2013; the beginning of the main work for reorganising the junction in Mendrisio, in the first half of 2014, which will continue until 2016, within the area of the road itself, and until 2017, outside this area. The total cost of the work will be CHF 100 million (including the maintenance work).