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(photo
Michel Azéma September 2000)
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Description
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The
longest railway tunnel in the world, 57
kilometers long, is actually under construction
in Switzerland under the Saint-Gotthard Massif,
between Erstfeld (Uri) and Bodio (Ticino)!
This is the Alp
Transit Gotthard. Started in 1996, the tunnel
will be opened in 2009!
France and Italy must take exemple of such a tunnel,
this is the only way to solve the problem of the
truck traffic thru the Alps and to avoid another
tragedy like Tunnel du Mont Blanc in March 1999
(39 deaths) and stop the pollution of the alpine
valleys.
A
vertical access shaft has been sunk at Sedrun which
is upright the middle of the tunnel. This one of
the main access ways for the workers. A one cabin
funicular railway was built to take the workers
from their temporary camp to the construction site.
It is an automatic lift with a free access even
for the tourists. |
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