Garda Traffic Relief: Experts Assess Road Safety and Future Solutions

Traffic situation and outlook

Without the Gardesana open to some form of traffic, next summer the situation threatens to become unmanageable even in Riva. Word of the mayor. Cesare Malossini outlines the numbers he presented the other afternoon at the provincial summit.

The July average is 5,500 vehicles per day in both directions, including about sixty buses; in the low season, about 2,300 vehicles circulate. The Brescia ferry transports 28 cars at a time. Just dividing the numbers, it is clear that – as the director himself claims – Navigarda will never be able to replace the road.

Conclusion: it is to be hoped that the super-technicians can design a guarantee situation sufficient to allow some type of reopening. Malossini shares the concerns of the residents of Limone, expressed by Mayor Martinelli, but envisions scenarios in Riva: “Imagine what would happen on our roads with about a thousand cars heading to Limone stuck in line waiting for the ferry.”

Traffic issues and possible solutions

The figure is plausible: during the season, traffic reaches 300-350 crossings per hour. “Traffic should be diverted from the Trento motorway exit, with notice given at Brennero. But what effect would a sign announcing the closure of Gardesana due to a landslide have on Garda tourism?” On the other hand, it is unquestionable that life takes precedence over money.

This is why engineer Bortolotti has shut down and insists on the danger, which today is considered insurmountable. “They have the report from engineer Castelli; landslides are repeated frequently. What if someone were underneath? How could the province exonerate itself before the victims?” And so these expert super-technicians, specialists in geology and road construction, must be found as soon as possible, within a week.

“Their task should be to examine whether it is possible to recover a reasonable degree of safety for those traveling on that road. If reputable experts, after inspections and checks, declare that under certain conditions, with specific works, transit can be considered reasonably safe, then even provincial technicians might agree to reopen.”

Scaling work and ongoing projects

There is also a commitment for scaling work that the province is commissioning: it was an ordinary preventive maintenance (budgeted at 4 billion lire) last year, within the interventions suggested by Castelli’s report.

“A first phase of work was completed before reopening. The second phase was scheduled for autumn 2000; there has been a delay of a couple of months.” Amid the bleak outlook, there is a glimmer of hope: “Engineer Bortolotti himself believes that the current Gardesana can still be used, at least as a construction route during tunnel construction.”

This would mean that some margin of safety for travelers can be assured. The province has already initiated preliminary procedures for tunnel construction.

“Limone, as Mayor Martinelli said and as the president of the province Cavalli reiterated, are grateful to Trento for the concreteness of the commitment, already demonstrated during the landslide on February 3.”

They hope something can be done. Rather than nothing, a limited opening might suffice: only a few hours per day, alternating one-way traffic, during daylight hours. The important thing is that cars reach Limone.” The debate is open. A small hope remains.