San Bernardino Tunnel

San Bernardino Tunnel

Overview
Location	Graubünden, Switzerland
Coordinates	46°29′49.20″N 9°10′19.20″E / 46.4970000°N 9.1720000°E / 46.4970000; 9.1720000
Status	Active
Route	A13 motorway, European route E43
Start	San Bernardino
End	Hinterrhein
Operation
Opened	1967
Character	road
Technical
Length	6,596 metres (21,640 ft)
No. of lanes	2

The San Bernardino road tunnel is a road tunnel in the canton of Graubünden in south-eastern Switzerland. It runs under the San Bernardino Pass between the town of San Bernardino and the town of Hinterrhein, and forms part of the A13 motorway and the European route E43. The tunnel was completed in 1967 and is 6,596 metres (21,640 ft) long. Since the opening of the tunnel, the Val Mesolcina, one of the Italian-speaking southern valleys of Graubünden, is now connected all-year round with the rest of the canton.^[1]

The San Bernardino Tunnel is part of the A13 as a single-carriageway freeway and therefore passes through one bore without a central physical structure. As there is only one lane per direction, overtaking (passing other vehicles) inside the tunnel is not permitted. The speed limit of 80 km/h (50 mph) is enforced by means of speed-check cameras. This road tunnel is considerably less prone to traffic jams than the St. Gotthard Tunnel.^{[citation needed]}

The old name Vogelberg may refer to the migratory birds who pass by here every year in large flocks. These have now also discovered the tunnel as a "shortcut". Sometimes, the traffic must be stopped so that the birds find their way undisturbed.^{[citation needed]}