the map of the works (and traffic)

From Via Castelforte to Corso Calatafimi passing through Via Ernesto Basile and in some sections of Viale Regione Siciliana. In recent weeks, in Palermo, for every hole there is a construction site (as we also wrote in a previous article).

It has become almost superfluous to say that potholes and bad roads are a real emergency in the city. There is no area that is saved.

From via Roma to via Crispi, from viale Regione Siciliana to via Dante and then further up to Mondello and beyond. Last but not least, the alleged “killer” pothole on the ring road near Bonagia where the fatal accident occurred in which a 38-year-old man and father of 4 children, Samuele Fuschi, lost his life. A tragedy that shocked (and outraged) everyone.

In short, from the center to the suburbs, Palermo “sinks” into the potholes.

The Municipality is taking action and since the end of April several construction sites have been open to repair roads and pavements in different areas of the city. Here she is map of the ongoing interventions and the related changes to the road system.

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The repair of roads is part of the so-called 1st Implementation Contract of the four-year framework agreement for the assignment of ordinary and extraordinary maintenance work on roads, pavements and public areas and, if necessary, prompt maintenance interventions.

As explained in our in-depth analysis, the document in particular is divided into eight lots functional corresponding to constituencies of the city, for a total of 46 million euros. Works went to tender at the end of 2022 and from which more than a year passed between tender procedures and signing of contracts. “In some cases the tenders were deserted, in particular for the third and fifth districts, but we are working to propose them again”, explained the councilor for Public Works Salvatore Orlando to Balarm.

“We will use – Orlando specified – a new method which does not involve the use of cold asphalt, but hot asphalt”. Basically it is a technique that allows you to repair individual potholes and depressions in the road surface more quickly and promptly.

The first construction site to start was the one in via Volturno, where the works began and ended at the end of 2023. This was followed by other interventions, such as via Villaermosa, via Wagner And Freedom Street (in the stretch from Piazza Vittorio Veneto to Piazza Castelnuovo) where the sidewalks are also being redone.

An acceleration was instead recorded at the end of April with the opening of the long construction sites via Ernesto Basile. Also in this case, these are urgent works (and awaited for years), mostly to repair potholes and depressions that have become a real nightmare, as well as a serious safety hazard, in one of the busiest areas of the city.

In particular, in the 4th district, the interventions continue along via Brasa, in viale Regione Siciliana, in the link road towards Catania (first section from via Pitrè to corso Calatafimi and second section from corso Calatafimi to the roundabout of via Ernesto Basile) and in corso Calatafimi, from the Rocca to Porta Nuova (towards the sea).

In Corso Calatafimi we work mainly at night; while via Re Ruggero is closed to traffic if necessary for a limited time of a few hours, as happened a few days ago.

In the other streets, however, no closures are foreseen but restrictions of roadway to allow the construction of the construction site area in the individual sections and – as stated in the Municipality’s ordinance – “normal vehicular flow” is in any case guaranteed.

As the Municipality explains in a note: «These are limited extraordinary maintenance interventions, identified following timely monitoring carried out by the technical offices and which will be followed by further interventions, already planned and in the awarding phase, which will affect the other districts municipal”.

In addition to the 4th district, similar interventions are also underway in the 7th district.

Similar interventions are in fact also underway in via CastelfortePallavicino area, where part of the road is closed to cars until 10 June, in the sections between Piazza Pallavicino and Via Iandolino and from Piazza Castelforte to Piazza Pallavicino.