What Is the Longest Tunnel In Europe and How Long Is the Gotthard Base Tunnel In Switzerland?

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Karen Hill

For many years, Europe’s, and the world’s, longest road tunnel was the 10.5-mile (16.9-km) St. Gotthard road tunnel in central Switzerland.

But in 2000, Norway opened the 15.3-mile (24.5-km) Laerdal road tunnel that cuts through mountains to connect the capital, Oslo, with the port city of Bergen.

Switzerland is now building what will become the world’s longest rail tunnel in the world, also through the Gotthard mountains.

The Gotthard Base Tunnel will be 36 miles (58 km) long and is expected to be completed before 2017.

When completed, the Gotthard Base Tunnel will reduce the current 3.5 hour travel time from Zürich to Milan by an hour.

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