Deep in the Alps of central Switzerland on October 15, 2010, the Gotthard Tunnel was drilled through.  This 57-kilometer stretch of tunnel broke the record of 53.8 kilometers previously held by the Seikan Tunnel of Japan, and became the longest rail tunnel in the world.  The Swiss media proudly called it the "Tunnel of the Century."

The Gotthard Tunnel, costing nearly 9.8 billion Swiss francs (approximately 10.3 billion U.S. dollars) and currently under construction, is an important project of a railway system connecting Germany, Switzerland and Italy.  The construction of the tunnel has taken over ten years so far, involving about 2,500 workers from more than ten countries.  Eight workers gave their lives working in the tunnel.  Thirteen million metric meters of rock was blasted and drilled through, more than five times the stones used to build the Giza Pyramid of Egypt.

The tunnel is expected to be open to the general public in 2017, and will ease the traffic and transportation of the Alps, playing an important role in north-south traffic across the European continent.  It is reported that the Gotthard Tunnel will have at least 300 trains a day speeding through it at 250 kilometers per hour by passenger trains and 160 kilometers per hour by freight trains.  It will take only 2 hours and 40 minutes from Zurich to Milan, Italy.

Previously in the Alps, traffic congestion and continuous passage of heavy trucks caused environmental pollution and affected the natural landscape.  The opening of the Gotthard Tunnel will help restore the natural beauty and tranquility of the alpine area.
Source:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hqgj/jryw/2010-10-17/content_1022198.html