Desenzano Plans Heavy Vehicle Ban in Historic Center to Reduce Traffic

It has been decided: the historic center of the city will be freed from heavy traffic. It is now only a matter of time. Trucks and lorries will be, in fact, removed from the main streets, especially from the former state road, which from the traffic light at Desenzano to the intersection with Viale Andreis crosses the town, dividing it into two parts, extending beyond the Rivoltella area.

The exact details of the measure have not yet been defined, but the mayor of the city, Felice Anelli, confirms the decision. Not only that. He announces that he has already sent a formal request to Anas to obtain authorization to install traffic signs also in the roundabout area of the locality Perla.

The initiative will concern heavy vehicles. “It will be converted into ordinances — explains the mayor — once the work on the Perla roundabout has restored the two access lanes, so that we do not risk creating queues and congestion in this area. This was also the suggestion I received from the Stradale Police.”

Temporary movements and restrictions

The transit ban, therefore, on Viale Marconi and then on Via Agello up to Rivoltella will apply to both directions. The exact terms of the ordinance, as we mentioned, have not yet been studied. “I believe — says the mayor — that the ban will come into effect from the traffic light at the mini-traffic circle for those coming from Padenghe at the intersection with Via Marconi and Viale Andreis.”

Here, a no-turn left restriction will be imposed for heavy vehicles, which will be forced to continue towards Lonato until they merge onto the new bypass, which is the new route of the State Road 11. The same approach will be applied — concludes the mayor — in the opposite direction, meaning for those coming from Sirmione who will be forced to detour towards the bypass near San Martino della Battaglia.

Context and development of the project

The initiative appears to be quite significant and crowns a series of projects that over the past 15 years had been repeatedly proposed to the attention of the Municipalities and the Region by the Tourism Board and the city’s tourism operators.

In fact, one of the most pressing issues for the small vacation capitals of Lake Garda is traffic management. The state roads, built many decades ago, run along the lake’s edge, crossing inhabited areas and creating chaos, congestion, queues, and smog.

Thus, the Municipalities of Desenzano and Sirmione had thought years ago, in agreement with Peschiera, to obligatorily divert trucks and lorries onto the Serenissima motorway at least during the summer months. The intervention seemed almost certain when the Lombardy Region approved a specific law that allocated, thanks to the commitment of the then Transport assessor Biscardini, the necessary funds as well.

However, nothing more was done since the Veneto region did not enact a similar measure for its jurisdiction, i.e., the territory of Peschiera. Now, the situation has changed. And enabling an independent initiative by the Municipality of Desenzano has been the construction and opening to traffic of the bypass, which, although incomplete, is nonetheless used in the stretch between the Perla locality of Desenzano and San Martino della Battaglia.

New route and responsibilities

This has become the new State Road 11, while the old route, crossing the center of Desenzano, has been downgraded and authority over this road transferred to the Municipality. Therefore, the mayor can legitimately sign a transit ban ordinance for heavy vehicles in the city center, with the alternative of directing them to pass on the bypass that runs outside the inhabited area.

A recent request in this regard was also made by the opposition councilor Rino Polloni. “It was not necessary — explains Mayor Felice Anelli — given that the issue has always been on the agenda for my Administration. And I will do so as soon as the traffic issue in the Perla area, where work is underway, is resolved,” the mayor comments decisively.

“I hope to sign the ordinance before Ferragosto and thus eliminate heavy vehicle traffic from Desenzano and Rivoltella already this summer.”