Trento Announces Rapid Construction of Riva-Limone Tunnel by July

The bidding envelopes for the contract to build the tunnel between Riva and Limone will be opened on Wednesday, February 21, and immediately afterward, work will commence on drilling within the mountain Rocchetta.

Project Details and Timeline

The total cost of the project: 75 billion euros, already allocated by the Provincia di Trento. The tunnel will restore traffic flow in the northern part of Gardesana, which has been interrupted since the devastating landslide of December 21.

To save time and be operational by July, the 970-meter-long tunnel will be excavated from three fronts: one central, and two at the ends of the tunnel. Construction duration: 150 days, with a daily advance of 21 meters—7 meters from each of the three fronts—and a daily removal of 1,600 cubic meters of rock.

This is a project executed with record speed. The road will be 9.90 meters wide and will feature three safety tunnels along the Gardesana Ovest road alignment. Fully paved and equipped with compliant lighting and ventilation systems, it is scheduled for completion on July 30.

Participants and Phases of Work

Eight companies with the necessary requirements are participating in the tender, capable of completing the first phase of work, which will allow the road to be opened to traffic by July.

“In a second phase,” the plan announces, “final finishing works will be carried out in autumn, absorbing the largest share of the 75 billion, that is 45 billion. The first phase will involve 30 billion euros, which pertains to the construction of the transit tunnel by July.”