After 10 years of construction, the Gotthard Road Tunnel opened for traffic September 5, 1980. 

The passage through the Swiss mountains covers 16.9 kilometres and connects Göschenen in the canton of Uri to Airolo in Ticino.

Opening of the St.Gotthard Tunnel
Released in 1980 by Switzerland
Part of the 2nd Publicity Issue series
Designed by Walter Haettenschweiler

When opened in 1980, the Gotthard Road Tunnel was considered the world’s longest. Today, it ranks as the fifth-longest tunnel, measuring a maximum length of 16.9 kilometres (10.5 miles). The average elevation of the tunnel is approximately 1,700 meters (5,577 feet) above sea level. 

Tunnel Specifications and Duration

Northern Portal – Göschenen	1,080 m (3,540 ft)
Highest Point	1,175 m (3,855 ft)
Southern Portal – Airolo	1,146 m (3,760 ft)
Tunnel Width	8.6 m (28.2 ft)
Tunnel Height	4 m (13.1 ft)
Average Journey Time*	13 minutes at 80km/h (50mph)

* Currently, the tunnel consists of a single bi-directional tube with one lane of traffic in either direction. One of the main complaints about the tunnel is the frequent traffic jams, particularly over weekends and holiday periods.

The Gotthard Tunnel is significantly shorter than the alternative Gotthard Pass. The pass covers 64 kilometres (40 miles). Travel times vary greatly depending on traffic volume and weather conditions, but should take between 1.5 and 2 hours
The Gotthard Tunnel Guide – Vignetteswitzerland.com 

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