«From a technical point of view, it is likely that the opening of the Fontana and Monte Po metro stops will take place at the end of the month». The statement of Except Fiore, director general of the Fce – snatched yesterday from “La Sicilia” taking advantage of a moment’s break in her “two days” in Rome, between dense meetings at the Ministry of Transport – will leave more than a few people disappointed who were expecting, on the other hand, an early opening . But it is the most concrete possible, also considering the latest works announced and requested by Fce itself which will significantly influence the viability of the ring road to and from Monte Po until 21 June. Besides the fact that for the opening of the two stops we will have to wait for authorization from the MIT.
After all, if it is already ready for the Fontana stop the pedestrian tunnel that will lead from the underground station directly to the Garibaldi Nesima hospital and it already promises to be fundamental, it is for Monte Po that, once opened, we will have to wait until autumn for the tunnel that will allow you to safely cross Viale Fontana. Until then a shuttle service will be activated to and from the station and the residential area.
Two important questions
It was yet another trip to Rome for DG Fiore, because they are on the table two important questions: the stalemate, to be overcome, however the routes from Monte Po to Misterbianco and the second batch from Stesicoro to Vincenzo Bellini airport. «In the afternoon (yesterday) we will have the table on Monte Po-Misterbianco – explained Fiore – The matter is delicate. There has been approximately two years of stalemate due to a question of economic adjustments and their sustainability, also on the part of the Medil Consortium, which was awarded the contract. If he were to refuse the offer, there are six other companies on the list, but the important thing is to be able to find the conditions to be able to start the construction site.”
However, some more certainty has arrived for the completion of the route to the airport. We mean the second lot, from Palestro to the airport, because for the first Stesicoro-Palestro lot we are awaiting the conclusion of the safety works on the street level preparatory to the restart of tunnel excavation. The excavation has been blocked for four years, after the internal collapse of a building in via Castromarino, an event two evenings ago which was still the subject of a report by Stefania Petyx on “Striscia La Notizia”.
Additional processing
«We have also been waiting for two and a half years for this second batch. The Cct, a technical consultative body, expressed its opinion – the director specified – and recognized some additional work. We are now proceeding to quantify some of the increased costs of both ours and the contractor’s, as well as having to identify the additional resources needed; on this I must record a great collaboration with the Municipality of Catania. We should define everything between now and the end of the summer, in order to be able to open the construction site by the end of the year.”
Confirm, we ask, that will we start with the construction of the Airport stop? «Yes – he replied – and I must recognize the great synergy that there was with the technical structure and governance of Sac, the airport management company. The project gave the opportunity to integrate our and their future projects, imagine being able to get to the airport by subway and exit in front of the new Terminal B via escalators and through a large transparent structure. Worthy of the largest metropolitan cities. During the construction phase, interference with the operation of the airport will be minimal, we will start by taking advantage of the low season.”
