Lonato Overpass Construction Delays and Traffic Alternatives Explained
Everything is now ready for the Filatoio overpass emergency at the state road 668 on the outskirts of Lonato. A few days ago, the countdown began for the start of work on the bridge of the state road leading to Montichiari, which crosses the “Serenissima” motorway at via Salera.
Interventions and Timeline on the New Overpass
The direct route connecting Lonato to Montichiari and the Bassa (on one side Ghedi-Orzinuovi, on the other Carpenedolo-Asola) will remain closed to traffic for the duration of the works. How long? Honestly, no one can or wants to commit to a date when the new overpass – reconstructed and widened by about ten meters compared to the one to be demolished shortly – will be reopened to traffic.
In any case, the Società Autostrada Brescia-Verona-Padova, which will carry out the construction of the new bridge at its own expense, has announced that “in seven months, the four overpasses involved, including the one at Lonato, will be rebuilt.” If the first bulldozer movement, as hinted by Public Works Councillor Emilio Baresi, is set for November, then the project’s completion could be estimated around February or March next year.
Motivations and Objectives of the Construction
The overpass project was decided by the Serenissima company to create the emergency lane, which is currently absent at that point. A serious shortcoming in a stretch of the A4 that has been the scene of fatal accidents in the past. Hence, the need to demolish the bridge at Salera and rebuild a new, wider one than the previous.
However, what weighs heavily on this project is the extreme inconvenience caused to motorists and local residents. The *Lonato Municipal Administration* is fully aware of this, having held a series of meetings with technicians and experts, and has devised an alternative traffic plan that, even with the best efforts of its planners, can only mitigate the disruptions mentioned earlier.
Alternative Traffic Plan and Resurfacing Works
The Filatoio overpass is a daily obligatory crossing for thousands of vehicles heading towards the Bassa on one side and Garda on the other, where hundreds of farms, artisan, and industrial companies are concentrated, not to mention Montichiari Airport.
Here is the plan, as explained by Councillor Baresi. At the expense of Serenissima, via Salera will be resurfaced and all signage for motorists will be installed. Heavy traffic from Montichiari towards Lonato will be diverted to Calcinato along the statale 11, or through Castiglione via the new bypass.
No heavy vehicles will pass through the Campagna district. The remaining traffic (commercial and private) will be regulated accordingly. For those heading from Montichiari to Lonato: if they need to reach the historic center, they can pass through Campagna, cross the railway, and reach viale Roma, or use via Salera, which has been resurfaced and strengthened with guard rails to protect the Seriola.
Speed inhibitors will also be installed on Salera to allow residents to exit their homes more safely. From Lonato to Montichiari, there are two options besides the Campagna route: either head towards Esenta and then return via via Malocche, or via via Cavicchione (the road near the municipal warehouses) with a one-way system, from which they can reach the provincial road (which will also be resurfaced).
