Nexans, in partnership with Swissgrid, will install a high-voltage line in a road tunnel. The 220 kV high-voltage line is a pioneering project that marks a major milestone in Europe, using a road tunnel for cable installation. The project will initiate in 2028 and will be completed in 2030.
May 14, 2025
Nexans, in partnership with Swissgrid, Switzerland’s national grid operator, will install a high-voltage line in the Saint-Gotthard Road tunnel. The Saint-Gotthard Road tunnel will house an 18 km long high-voltage line, which will replace the existing overhead line across the pass. This new connection will play a critical role in electricity transmission along Switzerland’s north–south corridor. Nexans will supply a total of 57 km of extra-high voltage cable for this operation, working with its bases in Charleroi (Belgium), which will manufacture the cable, and in Cortaillod (Switzerland), which will handle the project engineering and installation as well as supply accessories.
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The 220 kV high-voltage line is a pioneering project that marks a major milestone in Europe, using a road tunnel for cable installation. On behalf of the federal government, Swissgrid evaluates every grid project to determine whether synergies with other infrastructure, such as rail or road tunnels, can be leveraged. Combining infrastructures often contributes to landscape preservation and more efficient land use. The preparatory phase is set to unfold from 2025 to 2028, and works are due to start in 2028 and be completed in 2030. Valued at approximately EUR 50 million, this project represents the largest contract ever signed by Nexans Switzerland, making it a historic milestone for the company.
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Once the new line is operational, the overhead cables crossing the Gotthard Pass will be dismantled. However, four pylons near the summit will remain active but be reduced in size, to continue supporting a high-voltage connection for Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). The dismantling operation will contribute to reducing environmental and landscape impact in this sensitive natural area.
