Sins celebrates the opening of the new bypass

The first cars will be allowed to roll through the new tunnel on Monday, and this ‘project of the century’ will be celebrated this coming weekend in Sins. Three years after the official start of construction, the Letten Tunnel, the heart of the new Southwest Bypass, will be inaugurated. The joy of all those involved is great. The opening of this major project is intended to bring a long-awaited liberation from backlogs and through traffic in Sins.

Municipal councillor Josef Huwiler is glad that there will be more time for new projects after the completion of this work. But he is also a bit wistful. "It still seems a bit strange to me: I've been in this business for a long time. Some valuable relationships have developed during this time," he says.

The work on the entire bypass is not expected to be completed until mid-2022. But the fact that the 912-metre-long tunnel can now be opened together with the Eichfeld and Bachtal roundabouts was a major concern of the project team. "We actually planned a big party together with the inauguration of the new sports field. But we’ve had to slim down the event more and more from last autumn onwards. But we didn't want to wait any longer and so we’re opening the tunnel anyway," says Huwiler.

The Southwest Bypass
Photo: Canton Aargau

A slimmed-down “Day of the Open Tunnel”
The inauguration on Saturday will run at a minimal level, with the new tunnel open to the public from 12 noon to 6 p.m. Under corona protection measures, 500 people are allowed to enter the building for a visit and to be informed about the technology inside. "We can easily comply with the protection concept outside, and by limiting the number of people inside the tunnel," says Huwiler. A large entertainment programme is not possible, but classic cars and a "mini-train" will drive through the tunnel as an attraction, with local alphorn players and a light show providing atmosphere. "There will also be food, and no one will have to go home hungry - there will be an aperitif and a sausage," announced the mayor. He adds: "And all those who know the Freiamt know that the celebration is not to be missed." It is planned to organise a major event to celebrate the Southwest Bypass and the new sports field next year or in 2023.

And the big moment will arrive on Monday morning, 13 September, at 10 a.m. The first cars will be allowed to drive through the new Letten Tunnel and will be welcomed by the project team.