Province Calls for Urgent Safety Funding for Gardesana Road Repairs
The Province breaks its silence and addresses the issues concerning the “Gardesana” state road, a vital route that has seen extensive planning but very little actual work. The Cavalli Administration has no doubt: traffic along the coastal road must be managed with maximum safety. This commitment was emphasized by President Alberto Cavalli and the Public Works Councilor Mauro Parolini, who met with local officials in the presence of Adriano Paroli (Honorable Member), Bruno Faustini, President of the Alta Garda Mountain Community, and representatives of Anas, technicians Cesca and De Cesara from the Milan Division. Landslides are occurring with increasing frequency, risking not only the tourist season but also damaging the image of the lake itself and causing significant disruptions to local residents’ daily commutes.
Call for Safety Measures and Urgent Funding
The Province and its top institutional bodies issued a strong appeal, a call for personal responsibility. A pressing message directed at the Ministry of Public Works urging the government to take the “Gardesana” issue to heart, given its national importance. Although management of State Road 45 bis will not transfer to the Province—and the same applies to SS 42 of the Tonale—the authorities are aware they must send a strong signal to the Government to allocate appropriate financial resources as soon as possible to resolve this long-standing problem.
This is a shameful saga of announced interventions, funds that have never materialized, almost always unmet promises, endemic delays. Plus landslides, accidents, lives lost. A route that does little to honor Italy’s reputation.
Technical Interventions and Future Projects
On the agenda is not only the safety of the “Gardesana”—such as reinforcing the walls overlooking the road—but also improving local traffic conditions with the development of an alternative route to the 45 bis. The goal is to relieve the towns from traffic and risks, creating better living conditions.
«This meeting,» explained Parolini, «focused on multiple issues, starting with the emergency and the landslide that isolated Limone. Anas announced that urgent interventions are underway to secure the rocky walls using anchors, with a budget of 800 million euros. Additionally, dangerous sections will be demolished, debris removed, and walls inspected.»
«For this intervention, which is planned to be completed before Christmas,» Parolini highlighted, «Anas has allocated 1 billion euros. Furthermore, another 6 million euros have been made available to stabilize the walls between Gargnano and Limone, up to the provincial border.»
Actions on the Gardesana also include a significant project: the construction of an artificial tunnel of 189 meters at kilometer 99 in the territory of the Municipality of Tremosine. According to Parolini, this will connect the two existing tunnels, creating an unbroken route. The Councilor also pointed out that safety measures will be implemented on the first tunnel after Gargnano. After the Christmas holidays, a tender will be issued with an expenditure of 3 billion euros; work is scheduled to start at the end of January.
«We have established a protocol with the Municipalities,» added Cavalli, «but intervention is needed to modernize the Gardesana and prevent severe consequences for the tourism industry. The State has secured funds for the Pedemontana project in Veneto; I see no reason why it cannot find similar resources for Brescia, which must collaborate with various Authorities to build major road infrastructure.» Cavalli announced that the Province, the Garda Municipalities, and Brescia’s parliamentary representatives will request a meeting with Minister Nerio Nesi to secure appropriate funding, as the existing program agreement allocates only 40 billion euros for the road. «We will develop,» he concluded, «a definitive project in collaboration with Anas, the Mountain Community, and local authorities, to be presented at a Conference of Services.» Several hundred billion euros are needed to resolve the issues of a route now outdated.
Sergio Botta