For the Variante Montalese two million are needed for the executive project and an agreement between the Municipality of Pistoia and the Province on a part of the route, the one near the industrial area of Sant’Agostino. This is what emerged from a public meeting in the Romero di Santomato parish club promoted by the Urban Planning Commission of the Order of Architects of Pistoia. The meeting reconstructed the history of Via Montalese, the viability from past urban planning instruments, the present situation and the future prospects of the Montalese Variation. After a greeting from the president of the order Serena Zarrini and an introduction from the architect Paolo Caggiano, Tebro Sottili spoke with a historical account of the birth of the Via Montalese in the 1930s with the cutting of the Trincerone and Frasconaia hills and the beginning of first public bus service between Montale and Pistoia. Coming to the problems of the present and the inconveniences of the residents of Pontenuovo and Santomato due to traffic and accidents, Sottili expressed the thoughts of the communities living in the Montalese area: “The variant is essential – he concluded – we cannot rely only on the speed cameras and do not let yourself be held back by partisan interests”. Silvia Ginanni, former councilor for urban planning from 2003 to 2012, recalled the forecasts of the 2004 structural plan and in particular the idea that already existed then of a motorway toll booth in Pistoia East and of the road forecasts to ease traffic of Montalese. The transition from history to current affairs was the responsibility of Lisa Amidei, who is responsible for infrastructure in the Province. Amidei illustrated the feasibility study of the Variation carried out by the Province and financed by the Tuscany Region according to which the cost of the work is around 31 million euros. “To carry it out – said Amidei – the only tool is the development and cohesion fund. The President of the Region has given his support to the work, he told us that if we reach the executive project we will be able to access the fund, now therefore our commitment is to find a way to finance the executive project which requires from 2 million to 2 and a half million”. “It is an indispensable work – argued the regional councilor Federica Fratoni – it is not just a variant for the towns of Pontenuovo and Santomato but a necessary road to create development and complete the existing road network in the Prato area”. City councilor Leonardo Cialdi was unable to be present. In the Operational Plan of the Municipality of Pistoia currently being approved, a part of the route is foreseen, the one closest to Sant’Agostino, different from that present in the Province’s study. The Municipality plans to develop the industrial area to the east by widening Via Buraccia and Pacinotta, the Province also plans a completely new road in that stretch. A convergence must be found. “It’s simple – proposed Stefano Boni resident of Pontenuovo – the Municipality should make the stretch it has planned and then, from where the Municipality’s one ends, the new road planned by the Province can begin”.
Giacomo Bini
