Toscolano Bridge Closure for Pedestrian Walkways During Night Hours
The 45 bis will be closed in Toscolano Maderno for six nights: Thursday the 17th, Friday the 18th, Monday the 21st, Tuesday the 22nd, Wednesday the 23rd, and Thursday the 24th of May. This measure is necessary for the construction of pedestrian and cyclist walkways on the bridge spanning the stream.
Mayor Paolo Elena signed the ordinance just yesterday. Predictably, traffic will experience severe delays, but it will not be halted: instead, it will be diverted onto an alternative route.
For some time, the main road has become a sieve. Closed between Limone and Riva due to tunnel construction, in recent months it has had to endure a series of problems that have severely affected connections between the North and South.
The rainy season (with more centimeters of water than ever last winter) caused a series of landslides and rockfalls. Focusing on Maderno, we recall the collapse of a retaining wall of an apartment building at the town entrance, and cubic meters of debris falling onto the roadway in the area of the “Casa degli Spiriti”.
Ignoring the instability of the ridges in the side valleys, which often require urgent reinforcement work. In short, a continuous emergency. Many are therefore calling for a new Gardesana, entirely in tunnels.
Interventions on the Toscolano Bridge
However, typical construction work can generate upheaval and traffic jams. In a week, Cosmotec of Muscoline will need to intervene on the main Toscolano bridge to create pedestrian and cyclist walkways.
“It is necessary to suspend vehicle traffic,” explains Mayor Elena in her ordinance, “We have decided to establish a prohibition of transit from 9 PM to 6:30 AM on May 17th, 18th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th.”
So, everything blocked? “No. To minimize inconvenience, light vehicles will be diverted and allowed to pass on the adjacent old bridge, which is one-way alternating.” Located opposite the former Vetturi paper mill, now transformed into a residence, it was the subject of protests and petitions when it was closed and made pedestrian-only, but it was later reopened.
Nevertheless, the old bridge is very narrow, forcing pedestrians and vehicles to move slowly. Will trucks be sent back? “For emergency service vehicles or those forced to cross the 45 bis out of serious necessity, appropriate metal plates will be installed to allow passage.”
Cosmotec will install the necessary signage. Anas, the Lombardy regional department responsible for road management, has issued the permits. Those wishing to challenge the decision may file an appeal with the Tar. They have 60 days to do so, but time is of the essence.
