Gardesana Occidentale Tunnel Opens July 8 Amid Uncertainty
On Sunday, July 8, between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., the tunnel on the Gardesana Occidentale will open to vehicular traffic, without limitations and definitively. And this is certain: at least within the bounds of human certainty, since unforeseen events in such a complex project carried out so quickly can never be entirely ruled out, even though everything has gone exactly as planned for the past six months.
The potential ribbon-cutting by the President of the Republic remains to be confirmed, whose visit, at least for the Rivana part, is strictly private and remains shrouded in mystery. Ciampi will arrive by boat, aboard the festively decorated Italia, around 7 p.m., and will disembark at the Porto Vecchio in front of the Sole hotel.
Details of the visit and chronology
The location is the same where the first Italian soldiers set foot to take possession, after the defeat of the Central Powers, of the Redentored Trentino, on November 3, 1918.
Even mayor Malossini, chatting during the city council meeting, cannot specify further the timings of the President’s visit. The only confirmed details are his arrival by boat, the transfer to the Hotel du Lac for a dinner with very few guests, and the announced departure that same evening toward the Governing Commission’s Office in Trento, where an apartment has been arranged for Ciampi to rest overnight.
The inauguration of the tunnel and latest details
Regarding the ribbon-cutting of the new tunnel, hoped for by Dellai during the ceremony of dismantling the last diaphragm, there are no confirmations. It is true that a delegation from the Quirinale, a few days ago, measured the distance between the port and the tunnel entrance, checked the locations, and verified the route: then left wrapped in mystery.
Even chief engineer Duilio Coatti, who is a candidate to receive the congratulations of the Head of State for the efficiency and professionalism shown by the workers, cannot confirm whether the meeting will happen or not.
The project management states that, whether Ciampi or not Ciampi, it matters little: they have been invited to speed up the project’s completion as much as possible, shifting the date from July 27 to July 8, and are working to their maximum capacity. Currently, a series of state-of-the-art sensors are being installed inside the tunnel, capable of signaling any minor anomaly that could indicate a potential danger for anyone passing through.
Planned events and ceremonies
“We believe we can guarantee the opening on the 8th.” The mayor is considering some welcoming gestures and has invited the city councilors to be present. The national anthem performed by the Alpine Corps fanfare is also expected to be performed.
