en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Council of the Lombardy Region (Regione Lombardia) has voted to approve a favorable opinion on a connection project for State Road 42 (Strada statale 42 del Tonale e della Mendola), concerning the national Environmental Impact Assessment (VIA) procedure for the route.
This project is located in the Passo del Tonale area, within the municipality of Ponte di Legno, in the province of Brescia, specifically at Case Sparse del Tonale. As the first phase of an overall regional strategic project, its advancement has obtained a key permit.
The council resolution, promoted by Environment and Climate Councillor Giorgio Maione, is seen as a key measure to balance improving road traffic safety with protecting the surrounding sensitive mountain ecological environment. The resolution has now been formally approved and will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica) for final approval under the national VIA procedure.
The core objective of the project is to address long-standing road congestion and safety hazards caused by frequent crossings of pedestrians and skiers on both sides of the pass, especially on weekends. The growing conflict between transit vehicle traffic and the flow of visitors heading to ski lifts has forced authorities to structurally redesign the main road.
The project was proposed by Società Infrastrutture Milano Cortina 2020-2026 S.p.A. and is classified as an Olympic legacy project. The long-term aim is to leave the area with a modern transportation infrastructure to alleviate congestion at critical road nodes, improve overall air quality, and significantly reduce traffic-related pollution emissions during peak hours.
From a technical perspective, the project involves a major reconfiguration of the existing road, centered on developing a new section of SS 42 approximately 715 meters long. The most significant element is the construction of a covered trench about 100 meters long, precisely located beneath the Presena cable car, to physically separate traffic flow from skiing and pedestrian activities.
In addition to the covered trench, the project also plans ancillary road infrastructure. This technical scope covers all road works and service facilities aimed at optimizing and enhancing the function of the main road. The geometric restructuring of the state road includes a deep renovation of the existing pavement and the creation of new stopping bays specifically for public transport vehicle parking and waiting.
For private vehicle parking, the project will optimize access management to parking areas P1 and P through the construction of new, more convenient road entrances. Regarding previous media reports about relocating parking areas, the regional resolution clarifies that this approval does not involve any subdivision of private land for tourist accommodation purposes, nor does it consider moving the existing P1 parking lot away from the nearby peat bog area.
To ensure the absolute safety of local residents and tourist flows, the road cross-section will integrate a protected pedestrian walkway, safely separated from the main carriageway by guardrail-type safety barriers.
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