Gardesana Traffic Update: Old Route Opens Early as New Tunnel Progresses
The date is confirmed: between July 20 and 25, the new tunnel between Limone and Riva del Garda will open to traffic. But the real news regarding the conditions of the Gardesana is another: the use of the old existing section will be possible from June 10th in alternating one-way traffic during daytime hours, after the safety works are completed.
An assessment of the geological situation and the proposed projects, along with technical investigations carried out by the Politecnico di Milano (Engineer Giancarlo Loda) and Golder Associates Geoanalysis (Engineer Livio Locatelli), has established that the level of risk is very low.
Conditions of opening and ongoing works
What is the consequence? The old route can be opened for one month while awaiting the operation of the new tunnel (about 6 kilometers long). To be honest, excavations, ventilation and lighting systems should be finished by the second half of June, but it will still take another month for the tunnel opening, which should finally, even if temporarily, put an end to the ongoing issues regarding connections between Limone and Riva.
The Provincial Councillor for Public Works, Mauro Parolini, is satisfied with the possibility of using the old section, and immediately explains that “a passage of 5,500 people per day is planned to allow access to hotels and freight delivery.” This number could help avoid jeopardizing the tourist season for the area, which has been suffering since December 2000 in terms of tourist presence and connections.
Safety and intervention costs
But it’s not over yet. To guarantee the highest level of safety, the passage of cars on the old road will be managed by the police, local traffic authorities, or Civil Protection.
And the tunnel? The entire project, which involves an investment of 75 billion euros, including thirty billion just for excavation, has been underway since February 26. The work is progressing both north and south, as well as in the central section.
The two provincial administrations of Brescia and Trento are cooperating in synergy through their representatives, Carlo Faccin and Claudio Bortolotti. Councillor Parolini also emphasized the commitment of the Province to reach a definitive solution for Strada 45 bis from Gargnano to Limone.
Funding and future developments
The Anas has requested a 400-billion-euro financing from the Ministry of Public Works to carry out the doubling of the Gargnano arch tunnel, upgrade the Tignale interchange, along with other tunnels and sections in artificial galleries.
“For now,” explains the councillor, “we have only 8 billion euros available, plus another 40 billion that can be disbursed over five years. The request for 400 billion euros from the government remains, which could be repaid with a twenty-year loan.”
Finally, the councillor announced that in autumn, traffic on the Gardesana will be interrupted again to complete the construction of the ongoing tunnel.
