Trentino Engineer Debunks Long Tunnel Project for Nago-Busa Road
Between 100 and 110 billion lire additional cost for “saving” at most two and a half minutes of time. Here’s what the long Nago-Busa tunnel proposed by the Arco administration and the C9 Entrepreneurs’ Coordination would practically mean (money for the Province, time for motorists).
The technical-economic comparison and the calm objection come directly from engineer Claudio Tiso, the “father” of the Alto Garda road project, appointed directly by the president of the provincial council Lorenzo Dellai.
Tiso does not delve into or even touch on the political aspect of the issue (“the final decision lies with the politicians”), but from a technical point of view, he quite bluntly dismantles the hypothesis sponsored by economic categories and the Arco council.
The reasons for rejecting the project
For the Trentino engineer, there are fundamentally five reasons that led the provincial council to discard the long tunnel hypothesis.
Firstly, this solution would concentrate traffic at a single point (the Komarek interchange) “while our project—Tiso observes— with the creation of three exits at Nago, before Vignole, and at the Komarek, makes traffic flow more smoothly”.
Then, a long tunnel means at-limit gradients and consequently increased danger; there are also geotechnical issues, especially with the proposed start before Passo San Giovanni.
Furthermore, the direct connection to the Arco industrial zone involves the creation of a viaduct that would have a significant environmental impact.
Finally, there is the economic motivation which, translated into figures, indicates that the long tunnel costs an additional 100-110 billion lire, almost double the entire Riva bypass.
“But even resolving or setting aside the economic problem,” Tiso notes, “the other four points are not addressed, which are the essential ones. And then, in terms of time, the long tunnel would save between 2 and 2.5 minutes.”
Tiso cannot and does not even think about discussing such an aspect, but there’s also the political aspect within the provincial council that carries weight: a long tunnel starting before the Passo and exiting at the Komarek would mean four lanes, almost an autostrada (highway).
Imagine if, especially among the Greens and the Democrats of the Left (Ds), such an idea is well-received in the council.
Technically, however, Tiso reiterates that starting the tunnel before the Passo is an unfeasible hypothesis “because we are dealing with an environment that is geologically absolutely unfavorable”.
“The problem of snow before Passo exists, I don’t deny it, but it can be solved with other interventions, certainly not with a tunnel.”
In essence, his hypothesis remains untouched.
“It’s still a preliminary study,” Tiso adds, “and once the executive planning begins, I am committed to optimizing some suggestions.
For example, the relocation of the roundabout at the gates of Vignole: it can probably be done, but it wouldn’t be correct to give a definitive yes now and quantify the move.
We will see when drafting the final project.”