Toscolano Maderno Mayor Calls for Urgent Road Solutions and Funding

“This morning we had a great stroke of luck, just like a couple of weeks ago. People could have been buried under the landslides. It is time to face reality.” Engineer Paolo Elena, mayor of Toscolano Maderno, does not mince words. He calls for a response from Anas. “Securing the Gardesana involves investments between 450 and 600 billion,” he explains. “I am talking about widening the arch galleries (the older ones that require buses to perform millimetric maneuvers), constructing retaining walls, and more.” “Well,” continues Elena, “if Anas has the funds, it should say so clearly. I strongly doubt it does. It seems that in the next three to four years, they might spend 1200 billion on the entire national network. If the money isn’t available, then we need to consider another solution: a tunnel or a series of parallel tunnels to the current route. The funds would need to be raised on the market. Using a concession system for 30 or 40 years, a company could build the infrastructure and then recover costs by charging motorists a toll.” “We estimated,” the mayor emphasizes, “that the Tormini-Gargnano stretch would cost 700 billion, and a toll of thirty thousand lire (with current traffic) would allow the project to be paid off in 20 years. I suggested the idea of a tunnel from Tormini to Rovereto to stir the waters. In reality, I want to shake things up. I do not endorse Solution A (by Anas) or B (a concession). The important thing is to solve the problem. Continuing as we are is no longer feasible.” The mayor discusses recent mishaps. On November 6, two hundred cubic meters of soil and stones fell in the area called “Ruinat,” 300 meters from Maderno, for those coming from Gardone Riviera. Due to water infiltration, a collapse of an old wall, 20-25 meters long, had also torn down a wall on a lower terrace next to the 45 bis, dragging debris onto the road. “Fortunately,” Elena comments, “it was a drizzly evening, and at that moment, at 7 pm, no one was passing.” Private individuals will need to build two large reinforced concrete retaining walls, covered with exposed stones. “I trust the work can begin quickly.” On Saturday, Limone experienced a landslide. Yesterday morning, another in the area between Toscolano and Gargnano-Bogliaco, at Moie. “The police woke me up at a quarter to four,” reports the mayor. “Within an hour, all the municipal police had already started duty to direct traffic. Motorists had to take the golf course route, Cecina, Gaino, the bridge (and vice versa). Buses and trucks, however, were entirely blocked. Imagine the chaos.” At 7:30, there was another collapse: in addition to the initial 200 cubic meters of earth and rocks, more debris had fallen. A bulldozer from Gasparini company is clearing the slope. Gardesana will reopen to alternating one-way traffic, regulated by a traffic light. Geologist Michele Conti has already intervened.” Elena paces nervously in the room, takes a puff on his cigar, and with his booming voice repeats: “Enough. During summer weekends, there are continuous queues and now, ongoing landslides. We need to find a solution.” Lawyer Giampiero Cipani echoes him. “Anas must take responsibility,” repeats the mayor of Salò. “The 45 bis is an essential road for traffic. We cannot go on like this. Towns like Limone, which contribute significantly to tourism, often remain isolated. Regardless of the frequent collapses happening right now, Gardesana must become a priority.”