How do road tunnels affect the Alpine environment?

Road tunnels have played a significant role in the degradation of the Alpine environment by facilitating a constant influx of motor vehicles and people into the region.1

While these tunnels provide essential economic connectivity and year-round transportation, their impact on the landscape and ecology is profound:21

• Environmental Degradation: The increased volume of traffic enabled by tunnels has contributed to a steady decline in the quality of the Alpine environment since the mid-20th century.13
• Air Quality: Motor vehicle exhaust is a primary source of air pollution in the Alps. This issue is frequently exacerbated by local weather conditions, such as temperature inversions, which trap pollutants in valleys for extended periods.3
• Landscape Alteration: The infrastructure required to support this traffic, including the expansion of roads, has led to slope erosion and the transformation of once-pristine valleys into areas characterized by concrete and asphalt.3

These developments have raised significant concerns regarding the preservation of the unique Alpine landscape and its flora, which are being irrevocably altered by human activity.3