by Marta Belotti
The process for the construction of the Bergamo-Treviglio motorway is progressing, but is accumulating further delay – although it is possible to speak of a “delay” for a project that dates back to the early 2000s. Autostrade Bergamasche, the lead company of the group of companies that won the tender for the design, construction and management of the work, has in fact moved the delivery of the final project to August, which was instead scheduled for June.
The postponement, consequently, will also affect the start date of the Services Conference, which is unlikely to be before 2025, as well as the timing of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and, finally – provided the project passes these steps -, on the start of any construction site and the completion of the entire work. Even the most optimistic estimates now speak of inauguration and opening in 2028.
Certain things
Currently, the characteristics of the project therefore still remain unclear. The mayors of the twelve municipalities affected by the work saw very little during the three rounds of meetings with Cal (Lombardy motorway concessions) in the Region, which took place in November, April and the last one on 20 May. The citizens, practically nothing. The requests made by the Administrations to upload updated material on the Autostrade Bergamasche website dedicated to the work were useless.
For now we only know that the route will touch the territories of Treviglio, Casirate, Pontirolo Nuovo, Fara Gera d’Adda, Ciserano, Boltiere, Verdellino, Osio Sotto, Osio Sopra, Levate, Dalmine and Stezzano. Not Bergamo, because, despite the name given to the work, the toll booth will be located on the border between the last two towns listed. It is also known that it will be a motorway with two lanes in each direction, mostly in trenches, a fact which contributes to raising the costs: more than half a billion, of which 146 million are public (put by the Lombardy Region).
The delicate points
As mentioned, the process is only at the beginning and still has some decisive moments to face. And it is precisely on two of these, the Services Conference and the Way, that the Administrations opposed to the work will insist. Indeed (…)
