«It is an unacceptable situation. What happens daily on the SP486 which connects the mountains to the plain is unsustainable: if traffic had already slowed down before, now the road situation is completely paralysed, with notable repercussions for businesses, workers, students and commuters in general. Local administrations must act immediately to resolve the critical issues that the road network is generating, also given the imminent works on the Ponte della Veggia and the expected closure of the tunnel.”
Beppino Silvestri, president of Lapam Confartigianato of Frassinoro, highlights the situation that has arisen in recent years regarding the only road that connects the mountain areas of Frassinoro, Palagano and Montefiorino to the ceramic district of Sassuolo and, more in general, to the city of Modena. Uncomfortable conditions, with an increasingly significant volume of traffic which effectively blocks circulation, almost doubling travel times and greatly complicating travel between the two areas.
«The 486 was once an extra-urban road – continues Monica Telleri, president of Lapam Confartigianato of Palagano –: now with the installation of 7 roundabouts the traffic has become urban, also weighing on air pollution and obtaining an opposite effect in terms of sustainability and environmental impact. Furthermore, the installation of speed cameras has made the situation even worse. We understand that we must drive responsibly on the road, but on the 486 we do not understand the choices behind the installation of speed cameras: it will probably be explained to us that it was done for greater safety, but there are other much more unsafe roads on which was taken, and the 486, over time, has not seen such a significant number of accidents to justify this choice. Which is why we think they should be removed.”
«There is a lot of talk about infrastructures, especially with regards to roads, and how they need to be strengthened – reiterates Simone Buffignani, president of Lapam Confartigianato of Montefiorino – and yet it seems that here we are going in the totally opposite direction, not investing in a necessary connection such as that between mountainous areas and plain areas. With everything that follows, starting from the depopulation of the areas of our Apennines. For years, as an association, we have been fighting to encourage young people and families to return to live in the mountains to repopulate those areas which, in recent years, are experiencing desertification. However, if we do not invest in road infrastructure, we will hardly be able to resolve the collateral problems, such as depopulation, which arise and which can only get worse over time.”
