Veneto Region’s €2B Plan for San Carlo Pier Upgrade and Port Revamp
Money from the Region is arriving. The Palazzo Balbi Executive has approved the intervention program for the adaptation and enhancement of the San Carlo pier, a docking float located opposite Villa Albertini. News of this was announced by the regional public works assessor Massimo Giorgetti.
“This is the first executive phase for an amount of one and a half billion euros, compared to an overall general plan of two billion,” states Alleanza Nazionale representative. “Basically, procedures are being initiated to carry out the works aimed at ensuring a constant and safe docking station serving both public and private navigation in an area with high demand for passenger transportation services.”
Timeline and Project Development
“It took four years, but finally we have reached the tender stage,” exclaims Pierlorenzo Vantini, urban planning assessor for Garda, upon receiving the news from Venice. The definitive project for the expansion of the San Carlo pier has been ready for some time, and only a few months remain before work begins, which will be fully funded by the Region.
“I believe that the construction site will start in October,” Vantini adds. “The works,” emphasizes the same Massimo Giorgetti briefly in a statement, “will be carried out by the Verona Civil Engineering Department with high supervision from the Regional Mobility Directorate.” In short, Garda will soon have its new 35-meter-long pier without spending a lira.
Impact and Use of the New Dock
“This structure will serve Navigarda to allow mooring for two boats, thus enabling extended stays for one of the two vessels with its complement of tourists,” explains architect Vantini. “The exclusive use of the San Carlo pier by the governing body will free the old port pier and the Borgo pier, which are currently leased to the Lake Garda navigation company.”
These piers could be allocated to local boat rental operators. As already stated in L’Arena, the Garda Municipality intends to change the appearance of the old port, considered underutilized.
“Indeed,” Vantini continues, “the extension of the San Carlo pier fits within the overall port area redevelopment, which includes installing floating breakwaters to significantly increase the number of available mooring places. All this with an expenditure around 400 million euros.”
Part of the old port would be reserved for transit boats, then equipping the quay with drinking water and electrical power. A way to pursue the development of nautical tourism, all while waiting for the Veneto Region to transfer port management powers to the municipalities, as has already been done in Lombardy.