Gardesana Highway Closure Threatens Local Traffic and Safety Measures

Limone is caught in a vise. With an ordinance issued yesterday, Anas has decided to close the Gardesana highway even south of the town. The reason: to complete the disassembly and remediation work on the cliff face, following the landslide of November 18. As a result, existing concerns are now compounded by further worries, due to the duration of the blockage: until April 14, the eve of Easter. The situation is now clear: traffic is prevented in the northbound direction, between Limone and Riva, until further notice. The latest reflections (from the Province of Trento) spoke of a permanent closure pending the construction of a tunnel. And, from today, the highway is also closed southbound, although there are window periods during certain hours for transit: from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.; from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.; and from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. The mayor of Limone, Battista Martinelli, questions how night-time passage for rescue vehicles can be guaranteed. To Riva, movement is impossible; toward Salò, the company would suspend work during the day to allow ambulance passage: but what about at night? The surprise was notable yesterday when news of such a long blockade spread. Especially since it was believed that this new stop at Nanzel would last only a few weeks. Instead, this blow is one that leaves a mark. Now, hopes are pinned on the revision of the decision by Anas and—most importantly—on speeding up safety measures for the Nanzel cliff face, to allow for its permanent opening to traffic. If this decision is confirmed, Limone will have to rely on Navigarda ferries (the new schedules to Riva are in effect from today), in addition to the option of heading to Tremosine via the rather winding provincial road. North of Limone (Rocchetta landslide of December 22), some decisions may be made shortly, perhaps even today. Meanwhile, the road remains closed. Traveling south along Gardesana, another traffic halt will be at Forbisicle, where work was suspended for the holidays. Disassembly and placement of nets and rockfall barriers resumed yesterday, and passage is not permitted between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. This additional blockade causes discomfort—even as in previous months—for Campione. Residents can only move during the day toward Tremosine, since the ferry does not serve that hamlet. Amid these rather bleak updates, yesterday brought a glimmer of hope as the sun briefly peeked through. Rain from previous days caused yet another nasty surprise in the morning: a small landslide of a few cubic meters between Gargnano and Toscolano Maderno, on which Anas personnel acted immediately. Between today and tomorrow, there will be multiple meetings concerning the Gardesana issue. The most important is scheduled for late this afternoon at the Autonomous Province of Trento. Participants include the mayors of Riva (Cesare Malossini) and Limone (Battista Martinelli). The Trentino proposal involves the definitive closure of the current Gardesana, at Rocchetta di Riva, where the last landslide occurred. Alternatively, a tunnel will be constructed in that stretch. On the other bank, the municipalities on the Garda, including Riva, support the construction of the new tunnel but ask that the current highway be secured in the meantime to allow transit. Tomorrow morning, the focus will shift to the Brescia side, at Nanzel. Anas technicians and experts may provide more precise details. Some are expecting a modification to the closure ordinance—initially until Easter—issued yesterday. But there are also other, less marginal issues on the table. Also tomorrow, at 3 p.m., an extraordinary assembly will be held at the Comunità Montana in Villa di Gargnano, convened by Bruno Faustini. Naturally, the topic will be the road. And tomorrow evening, an extraordinary municipal council meeting at Riva (at 8 p.m. at the Rocca) will also address the Gardesana issue.