Underground Landslide Near Maderno May Impact Gardesana Road Access
The Gardesana continues to make headlines. When problems don’t come from above (landslides and rocks), attacks are underground. It happened yesterday, just before noon, in the very center of Maderno, where a hole approximately half a meter in diameter and depth opened up.
The municipal workers responded immediately, involving technicians from the Consorzio Azienda Garda Uno. The Anas was also alerted. Damages to the collector pipe transporting sludge to Peschiera are considered unlikely: the pipeline and manholes have been checked.
Issues with the municipal water supply are ruled out, as it does not pass through that area. The hypothesis remains that the cause could be related to the discharge of rainwater and storm drains. About twenty years ago, work was carried out at this site, involving backfilling and installation of manholes.
Origin of the breach and current situation
The triggering factor could have been the high water levels recorded on Lake Garda in recent months: therefore, it is unrelated to landslides similar to those that have occurred further up the lake, where the Gardesana faces other difficult moments.
In fact, the schedule allowing passage in Nanzel may change starting today. Currently, the main road permits some windows of access in the morning and evening, but ongoing work from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. involves three «spiders» on the cliff face.
It remains to be seen whether passage will be allowed for the remaining 12 hours. Anas will also decide if overnight transit will be open to all or restricted to emergency vehicles, possibly reserving some time slots for other motorists.
Decisions and timelines for the work
The decision is imminent, and the definitive opening — even with alternating traffic — for all 24 hours is not expected to be delayed. The acceleration of work in recent days suggests that the date for the Anas ordinance, allowing vehicle passage, scheduled for April 14, might be brought forward.
During a meeting last week with limonesi economic operators, the planned date was February 25; however, timelines are likely to be shortened further, barring surprises, with estimates around February 20.
Meanwhile, in Limone, a City Council meeting (Friday, February 9, at 8:30 p.m. at the Palacongressi) has been convened. Important decisions regarding traffic between Riva and Limone might be announced, as the reopening was initially ruled out due to the Rocchetta landslide and the road’s instability.
There has also been a reconsideration by the Provincia di Trento, which spoke of a gradual opening (with many precautions) around June. Currently, rumors suggest a reopening during the Holy Week holidays, possibly for a couple of weeks, but this has not yet been officially confirmed.