en.Wedoany.com Reported - The new construction project for the SS 89 "Garganica" road has officially commenced, with the first phase carried out by Consorzio stabile Valori, involving the section between Manfredonia and the Amendola military airport in the Foggia area. The project has been included under national commissioner management and is fully funded by the 2014-2020 Development and Cohesion Fund (Fondo Sviluppo e Coesione 2014-2020), with a budget of approximately €180 million.
The project plans to modernize about 14 kilometers of the state road, upgrading it to a Class B highway, aiming to provide significantly higher levels of driving safety and comfort than the current standards. Key structural innovations include: separating the two-way traffic lanes with a central median, and reorganizing intersections to install more efficient interchanges. Additionally, direct access to the state road from residential areas, businesses, and farmland will be eliminated, with the construction of auxiliary and service roads specifically designed to separate local traffic from through traffic.
The renovation of this road has been planned for decades. The SS 89 is the traditional route for Foggia residents to reach the sea, with daily traffic volumes ranging between 3,500 and 4,000 vehicles, increasing significantly during the summer. To avoid impacting holiday travel, actual construction will begin in September, with preparatory work expected to start in the coming weeks. This artery is also crucial for religious and medical travel, as it leads to international pilgrimage sites in the Apulia region, such as the Sanctuary of Saint Pio (santuario di San Pio) in San Giovanni Rotondo and the Sanctuary of Saint Michael the Archangel (San Michele Arcangelo) in Monte Sant'Angelo, as well as the medical center at the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza hospital.
The first phase of the SS 89 is part of a broader road renovation plan for the Capitanata area. This plan also includes: the renovation of the SS 16 Adriatica road between Foggia and San Severo, with the construction of auxiliary roads, costing approximately €181 million; the overhaul of the Foggia West Ring Road, costing about €123 million; and the completion of the renovation work on the same Garganica road.
