Alternative route to Appennine pass opens after 33 years

Milan - The alternative route to the Florence-Bologna Appennine motorway pass was opened on Wednesday after 33 years. Following 24 years to obtain the necessary authorisations and 9 years of actual construction work, the new pass was inaugurated by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. He said: "This work is proof of the fact that Italy is not the country of unmet challenges. Today we are going to put in the attic the 'we'll never make it' slogans." The alternative route is the new connection between Barberino del Mugello and Sasso Marconi, with 59 km of the motorway having been enlarged, 32 km of which is a new route. There are also 41 tunnels and an equal number of viaducts. In total it cost 4.1 billion euros against an initial estimate of 2.5 billion. The cost was completely covered by the motorway management company Societa' Autostrade, said the company's President Fabio Cerchiai and CEO, Giovanni Castellucci, during the inauguration ceremony. (AGI)

(December 23, 2015)