A microcosm on the north-south axis

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Hanging out under a motorway bridge on the border between Switzerland and Germany Franca Pedrazzetti, Beat Brechtbühl

Nets and grouted anchors protect against rock falls on the north and south entrances to the Oberburg tunnel in canton Basel Country Franca Pedrazzetti, Beat Brechtbühl

The Eggberg rest area with snack bar and kiosk, near Egerkingen in canton Solothurn Franca Pedrazzetti, Beat Brechtbühl

The west-east axis A1 and the north-south axis A2 meet at the Härkinger crossroads in canton Solothurn, used by more than 45 million vehicles a year Franca Pedrazzetti, Beat Brechtbühl

An al fresco picnic between lorries at the Gunzgen North service station in canton Solothurn. Service station meals are too expensive for many lorry drivers Franca Pedrazzetti, Beat Brechtbühl

Evening prayers at the Gunzgen North service station. Built in 1969, it is the oldest in Switzerland Franca Pedrazzetti, Beat Brechtbühl

The A2 between Reiden and Dagmersellen in canton Lucerne Franca Pedrazzetti, Beat Brechtbühl

Breaking up a journey at a rest area at Knutwil, canton Lucerne Franca Pedrazzetti, Beat Brechtbühl

The motorway seen from the Neuenkirch service area outside Lucerne Franca Pedrazzetti, Beat Brechtbühl

In the 1970s the Sonnenberg tunnel near Lucerne and Kriens was built not only for road traffic but also as the largest civilian bunker in the world. In the event of a disaster, 20,000 people could have sheltered there. After the Cold War, it was gradually rebuilt Franca Pedrazzetti, Beat Brechtbühl

A noise barrier blocks a view of the A2 near Stans in canton Nidwalden Franca Pedrazzetti, Beat Brechtbühl

The night shift at the heavy goods centre in Erstfeld, which has 50 staff Franca Pedrazzetti, Beat Brechtbühl

Maintenance work at the north entrance to the Gotthard tunnel. Drivers cannot see the workers who are responsible for ensuring their smooth journeys every day Franca Pedrazzetti, Beat Brechtbühl

The Gotthard tunnel between Göschenen and Airolo. Sometimes it is closed at night to enable maintenance work Franca Pedrazzetti, Beat Brechtbühl

Drivers on the viaduct in Leventina in canton Ticino are unaware of how spectacular the construction actually is Franca Pedrazzetti, Beat Brechtbühl

The motorway service station at Ambri-Piotta in canton Ticino was designed by Ticinese architect Mario Botta Franca Pedrazzetti, Beat Brechtbühl

Noise barriers made of laminated safety glass, also designed by Mario Botta. Water from the mountain stream at Breggia is diverted parallel to the motorway Franca Pedrazzetti, Beat Brechtbühl

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It’s a thoroughfare for travellers, a transport route for freight, a transit axis between north and south, and a part of the journey for the countless commuters who live nearby. Two Swiss photographers have discovered a microcosm on the A2 motorway from Basel to Chiasso – a slice of life not usually noticed by the millions of travellers who pass by.

Eight service areas and numerous picnic areas line the 295-kilometre A2 motorway. Forty-two tunnels and viaducts make it possible to easily pass gorges and mountain ranges. The road leads through a varied and in some places unique landscape. But most travellers don’t look further than the crash barriers. They want to reach their destination as quickly as possible – without interruptions or disturbances.

Photographers Franca Pedrazzetti and Beat Brechbühl spent two months on the north-south axis getting to know the people whose daily lives are linked to it. They began to understand just how big the apparatus is behind our seemingly simple understanding of mobility.

(Photos: Franca Pedrazzetti, Beat Brechbühl; Text: Monique Rijks and swissinfo.ch)