Horgen Council Demands Federal Reassessment of Hirzel Tunnel Timeline
The Horgen municipal council rejected the Federal Council’s decision to defer the Hirzel tunnel project until after 2055, urging a higher priority and completion by 2045.
Horgen’s municipal council has formally opposed the Federal Council’s move to place the N14 Hirzel connection in the “post-2055” category of the national road development programme. Referring to the Zurich cantonal spatial plan, which earmarks the Hirzel tunnel for medium-term implementation, the council argues the delay contradicts regional planning. The existing surface route runs through residential neighborhoods and protected natural zones, imposing long-standing burdens on the community and environment.
Mayor Beat Nüesch stressed that the tunnel would provide a lasting solution and should be prioritized as a nationally important infrastructure project. The council is calling on the Federal Council to reconsider the timing and to acknowledge the tunnel’s role in connecting the growth corridors of Zurich, Zug and Lucerne, aiming for completion by 2045.
Why it matters
The decision affects regional traffic, environmental protection, and the timing of a key infrastructure link for several growth regions.
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