«Turn around now!»
Campaign against the «Rhine tunnel»
The «Rhine tunnel»

The A2 motorway around Basel and Birsfelden is to be massively expanded between 2029 and 2040. The so-called „Rhine Tunnel“ will create additional capacity for cars – but more roads always lead to more traffic, more congestion and more emissions. The construction of the Rhine tunnel will turn the Dreirosenmatte into a building site for around 10 years and will also destroy 150 family gardens in Birsfelden.
The 10-year construction of the Rhine tunnel will primarily affect the Matthäus neighbourhood, where many (migrant) workers live, spend their free time and send their children to school. As soon as the motorway is built, rents in the neighbourhood will rise. Many people will therefore not be able to enjoy a supposedly quieter neighbourhood with fewer cars.
Spending CHF 2.6 billion on this motorway expansion is evidence of the completely failed priorities of established politics. Instead of investing this money in public transport, social projects or the sustainable restructuring of the economy, a project from the last century is being built that will exacerbate the climate crisis.
About us
The campaign «Turn around now!» is organising against the construction of the Rhine tunnel. We unite various organisations, collectives and individuals from Basel. Instead of a Rhine tunnel, we are calling for an ecological and socially sensible design of the urban space. We want a sustainable transport transition and free public transport for all.
We are organising ourselves in the neighbourhood because we want to decide for collectively how public space is designed. We want to point out the many just alternatives to the Rhine tunnel.
Our aim is to build and promote resistant structures in the neighbourhood. In doing so, we reject violence against and endangerment of living beings. We come from different collectives and political spectrums. We respect and support the diversity of the various groups in their behaviour and practices.
We see ourselves as an extra-parliamentary campaign. Support from institutionalised parties is welcome, but they should not become an active part of our campaign.

«Turn around now!»
Write to us by email or on Instagram, or talk to us at one of our events. We are looking forward to meeting new faces!
