Gotthard tunnel north approach: Environmental compatibility and construction supervision

The northern approach project comprised the open railway track between Altdorf and Erstfeld with all the necessary engineering structures. In contrast to the tunnel, it was not the geology that posed the greatest challenge here, but the numerous demands on the intensively used, limited space in which the infrastructure structure was built. Around 2.3 million tons of construction material were temporarily stored and made available on time. Around 2.3 million tons of construction material had to be temporarily stored and made available on time in a confined space. Alternative habitats for rare species were created during the construction period. As the construction work took place above a thick aquifer and directly adjacent to surface water, extensive water pollution control measures were necessary. Detailed calculations, monitoring and measures to protect against noise and dust were also implemented. Numerous ecological contingency measures or compensating measures, including the renaturation of the Walenbrunnen stream along its entire three-kilometre stretch and extensive landscaping of the embankments of the new railroad embankments, round off the project.