BARI Long queues of cars, roads that are often clogged and turn into real funnels especially at peak times. The reason? The too many, many construction sites, which are paralyzing traffic. The Japigia neighborhood of Bari is experiencing quite “hot” weeks. An area of the city where numerous road works are underway, many of which are linked to underground utilities.
A stalemate that is sending motorists into a tailspin in a strategic area for those who decide to exit and enter from the south.
A topic addressed in the last question time of the City Council with councilor Alessandra Simone (M5S) spokesperson for the many requests and reports made by citizens and also by the families of the young pupils who attend the nearby schools.
«Some roads have become truly impassable. How is it possible that many of these construction sites were not completed within the expected timescales?”, asked the Grillina exponent in the Chamber, questioning the Councilor for Public Works and Mobility Nicola Mele.
NEW WORKS SOON The reason is easy to explain: in Japigia at the moment at least three road construction sites are underway and soon – there are already the first prohibition signs – another will be added, that of via D’Avanzo for scheduled maintenance and the resurfacing of the road surface. The map of the “nightmare” roads focuses above all on via Caldarola: in the stretch between viale Magna Grecia and viale Aristosseno, Enel work is underway to replace the medium and low voltage cables, while in the stretch between via Cavalieri di Vittorio Veneto and the Valenzano Torrent bridge, work continues to complete the Pirp on the widening of the pavements and the construction of underground services which has resulted in the reduction from three to two lanes.
«The Enel works were supposed to finish at the end of February, while those of the Pirp began in December 2022 and are not yet completed. Such delays are unacceptable”, explained councilor Simone.
Some indications from councilor Mele: «Enel’s work should be finished in 20 days while for the others we are pushing companies to respect the timetable. Many of these construction sites are not under our control.”
Another critical area is Via Gentile with the closure of one direction of travel between Via Toscanini and Via Loiacono for works related to AQP.
«Here too – observed the councilor – long queues are created, especially in the morning, around 8 am, and in the late afternoon around 6 pm. We are approaching summer and I can’t imagine what will happen in this area of Japigia which leads towards the sea”.
The sea precisely. Work on the first lots of Costa Sud is also looming here, the large marine park financed by the Pnrr, and for which once achieved the primary objective will also be to guarantee parking for the many visitors who will reach this true green lung of the city between spaces for sport, free time and relaxation.
Hence an idea, also hoped for by some planners and also supported by the M5S council group, to activate an agreement with the Puglia Region to allow the use, in the afternoon and evening hours, on weekends and on holidays, of large areas car park created around the new glass headquarters of the Regional Council building.
A not so far-fetched hypothesis. «We will start discussions with the regional body – Councilor Mele announced in the Chamber – to evaluate the feasibility of this proposal».
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