The Garda Cycle Path is at the center of a heated debate due to the exorbitant costs revealed in a recent report by the Court of Auditors. With a total investment of 30 million euros for just 18 kilometers, the cost per kilometer is over five times higher than the national average, making it the most expensive cycle path in Italy.
According to the “Report on the design and construction of the National Tourist Cycle Path System” published by the Court of Auditors, the cost per kilometer of the Garda Cycle Path is around 1.6 million euros. This figure is significantly higher compared to other Italian regions, such as Sardinia, where the average cost is only 250,000 euros per kilometer.
Nearly half of the resources allocated to the Garda Cycle Path were used in Lombardy, with 12.53 million euros invested to build just 8 kilometers of the route. The Court of Auditors criticized this economic expenditure, highlighting that the cost per kilometer of 1,567,489.12 euros is not comparable to that of other regions.
Another critical point concerns the technical and safety deficiencies identified in the Technical-Economic Feasibility Project (PFTE). The report highlighted issues related to the safety and technical characteristics of the route, including the inadequacy of the necessary landscape and environmental studies given the presence of significant constraints and peculiarities such as tunnels and cantilever sections.
In the section between Garda and Torri del Benaco, particular criticalities have been reported due to the presence of important archaeological sites such as the path of rock engravings. Furthermore, concerns have been raised regarding the anticipated negative landscape impact of the project, such as the complete refurbishment of the existing cycle path in Peschiera and the widening of the coastal strip in front of Villa Canossa through artificial works.
As for the Trentino part of the Garda Cycle Path, costs have experienced a significant increase (+77%) compared to the feasibility document of 2017. The Autonomous Province of Trento justified this increase by citing the expansion of the route (+84%) and interventions necessary for geological safety resulting from recent landslides.
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