The name of the pass comes from the Latin: Petra pertusa, meaning broken rock.

A third century inscription concerning the construction of a road through a natural cutting in the rocks along the route of the pass demonstrates that this is part of a route that was used in the Roman period, connecting Aventicum (modern Avenches) with Augusta Raurica, a Roman settlement a short distance to the east of Basel.

The first road that was passable for automobiles was built during World War I by the corps of engineers of the Swiss Army.

In 1932, a new road was built employing the jobless due to the Great Depression.

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