Garda Landslide Prompts Regional Traffic and Infrastructure Summits

Leaving aside controversy and analysis, now is the time to act. The holidays did not promote meetings on a technical or political level, but they may have helped focus attention on the “Gardesana problem” in the stretch north of Lake Garda. On December 22nd, as we recall, yet another landslide brought traffic to a halt and resurfaced concerns long known.

To discuss this, today at 3 p.m., a meeting is scheduled at the Limone Municipality involving the Altogardesano mayors, the regional assessor Franco Nicoli Cristiani, and Mauro Parolini, assessor at the Province. The presence of other politicians is expected, and the participation of the Vice President of the Region, Viviana Beccalossi, is considered likely. The initiative is by Bruno Faustini, president of the Montane Community of Parco Alto Garda.

Another summit is planned in Trentino in the early days of next week. Around the table will sit, alongside the president of the Autonomous Province of Trento, the leaders of the same entity and some local administrators, including two of the most directly involved: Cesare Malossini (mayor of Riva) and Battista Martinelli (the mayor of Limone).

Issues Regarding Traffic and Transportation

Meanwhile, the events of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day — specifically the blockage of the “Mincio” ferry, which was replaced yesterday by Navigarda with the less-capacious “Brescia” — have raised questions about one of the alternatives proposed to address the road closure: increasing the lake transport service by strengthening the link program between Limone and Riva, which now operates with about two trips every hour, round trip.

For the record, the “Brescia” is unable to transport trucks or large vehicles, unlike the “Mincio”. A straightforward opinion on the Gardesana issue was expressed yesterday by the mayor of Riva, Cesare Malossini, who told Bresciaoggi that he faces “big problems”.

“The hypothesis of closing the state road for an extended period, while waiting for the new tunnel from Riva to Limone (1250 meters long), is worrying.” According to the mayor, “the intention to resolve the issue with the construction of a new tunnel that definitively solves the problem is understandable. But in the meantime, handling traffic with a ferry service is not sustainable”.

In addition, for Riva, there is another aspect to consider: the hundreds of cars parked in the town of Lower Trentino awaiting embarkation on the ferry to Limone, and those of drivers seeking parking, intending to leave their vehicles here and use the boat.

“Our willingness to assist Limone was necessary — continues Malossini — and we have offered a parking area along the road, since it is currently not usable. We also used a parking lot with about eighty spaces near the dock. But managing this temporary situation now, in winter, and in summer will not be the same”.

The parking is free, and the Riva administration has also provided a kiosk for tourists heading to Brescia to give directions.