The modern resilient 32.4 million-euro infrastructure provides heavy duty vehicles with a direct link road to/from the Port of Genoa-Pra’ and the motorway network stretching across Northwestern Italy and into Europe, an area which encompasses the major prosperous manufacturing and consumer heartland.
In addition, the complete demolition of the former viaduct, which is scheduled to commence in August and is to be concluded by the end of the year, is set to free up an area by the terminal rail yard, a further stride in the intermodal potential of the Port of Genoa-Pra’.
Furthermore, state-of-the-art sound barriers have been installed which mitigate the acoustic impact of the road traffic upon the surrounding residential area, thereby improving the quality of life for citizens along the city-port threshold.
At the opening ceremony, the Italian flag flew symbolically over the viaduct to highlight the national strategic importance of the new road infrastructure, not only for the local community, but for Italy’s economy overall. In attendance, the Vice-Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Edoardo Rixi, the President of the Western Ligurian Sea Authority, Matteo Paroli, the President of the Liguria Region, Marco Bucci and the City of Genoa Councillor for Infrastructure, Massimo Ferrante.
Built with a mixed steel-concrete structure and a streamlined design that reduces the visual impact compared to the former facility, the new 450-metre long, 11-span viaduct provides three lanes for heavy duty vehicles, one more than the former facility: two incoming lanes to eliminate queues by the motorway exit and one outgoing lane.
The construction of the viaduct required skilled planning and coordination, in view of the presence of numerous obstacles, namely, strategic public utilities, motorway and urban traffic flows, the Genoa-Ventimiglia railway line and rail tracks serving the container terminal. Construction works were conducted without disruptions to port operations and with minimal impact on residents. The new link road was funded across the Major Infrastructure Investment Programme, implemented in the aftermath of the tragic collapse of the Morandi Bridge. The project grouped together a team of over 200 highly skilled and experienced workers and represents a model for best practices in the governance of complex port-urban construction projects.
The President of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, Matteo Paroli, stated: “The new viaduct in Prà is not merely an infrastructure, but it marks a concrete step in the implementation of a strategic plan which is revolutionising the Ports of Genoa and Savona. It is a feat of engineering which blends practicality with long-term vision: it improves access overland to the port and the overall competitive edge of our logistics hub, but in harmony with the city, by separating the heavy duty vehicles from city traffic and by supporting urban regeneration. This new facility is part of the 3-billion euro Infrastructure Investment Programme which in 2025 will see the completion of ten construction projects and great strides in the progress of the other range of projects underway. This is a testimony to the Port Authority’s ability to plan and build successfully sophisticated infrastructure, thereby consolidating the role of the Ports of Genoa and Savona as a modern logistics platform serving Europe overall, in compliance with sustainable local development.”
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