57 KM

57 km. is a series focusing on the construction of the Alptransit project, consisting of the Gotthard Base Tunnel (57 km., the longest and deepest railway tunnel in the world) and the Ceneri Base Tunnel.
In fact the Gotthard Base Tunnel consists of two 57 km. long single-track tubes.
These are connected together every 325 metres by cross passages. Including all cross-passages, access tunnels and shafts, the total length of the tunnel system is over 152 km.
It joins the north portal at Erstfeld to the south portal at Bodio. With a rock overburden of up to 2300 metres. The Gotthard Base Tunnel is scheduled to become operational at the end of 2016.
Further south there is a second tunnel under construction, the Ceneri Base Tunnel (15 km.), which together with the Gotthard Base Tunnel is completing the Alptransit project, opening of the Ceneri Base Tunnel is scheduled for December 2019.
The whole project is massive, the numbers are impressive !
I had the chance to enter the tunnels in different times to see the work in progress. I have great respect for all the involved people in this project, from the engineers to the miners which are working in shifts in a hard and challenging environment.