New Tunnel Proposed as Practical Alternative to Gardesana Road

A credible alternative to the Gardesana state road: it’s time to seriously consider realistic projects and present concrete proposals.

This is the conclusion reached by the administrators of the Municipalities bordering the state road, who gathered yesterday in an assembly.

The meeting took place in an institutional setting with a sense of historic significance, considering that for 40 years attempts have been made to solve the problem with scattered or outdated solutions.

During the meeting, discussions focused on doubling the Gardesana or building the new State Road along a hillside route.

Proposals and opposition to the alternative route

The idea of a hillside route was dismissed by Manlio Bonincontri, mayor of Tignale: «Gardesana along a hillside? A joke. Today, such a project is absolutely unthinkable».

Along the same lines as the mayor of Tignale, the deputy mayor of Gargnano, Marcello Festa, branded the project as «unfeasible».

Similarly, there was unanimous rejection of the proposal to use the Navigarda ferries as a permanent alternative service.

«They are struggling to meet current demand, let alone during the tourist season,» commented Bruno Faustini, president of the Mountain Community.

Alternative solutions: the tunnel

So what now? The administrators revisited the idea of a tunnel, an option previously suggested by Paolo Elena, mayor of Toscolano Maderno.

The tunnel could become a reality through a public-private partnership, already tested in Trentino, thanks to funding from local banks.

Account holders saw their money invested directly in their local area.

Furthermore, works commissioned even by private individuals have allowed for faster project execution.

The use of these new roads will be toll-based and, ultimately, will solve a problem for some while representing a worthwhile investment for others.

This complex issue is likely to attract interest but also controversy.

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