Lombardy Area
A4 IV corsia dinamica (V.le Certosa – Sesto San Giovanni)
Description
The project consists in upgrading to a dynamic fourth lane the approximately 10 km section of the A4 Torino-Trieste motorway between the Viale Certosa junction and the Sesto San Giovanni junction, with peaks of approximately 200,000 vehicles per day in both directions and hourly peaks of about 6,000 vehicles in each direction.
Given the impossibility of widening the motorway carriageway due to its close proximity to urban areas, the answer to the need to increase the capacity of the section consists in the temporary use the emergency lane as a fourth carriageway, to be opened/closed to traffic based on a constant traffic flow detection system.
The aim is to ensure greater traffic fluidity by applying innovation and technology to adjust the infrastructure capacity, generating benefits in terms of environmental impact: for every hour of dynamic fourth lane activation over the approximately ten kilometres on which it is planned, it is estimated that around 1.5 tonnes of CO2 will be saved.
In July 2023, the first functional section between the Viale Certosa junction and the Cormano junction was opened to traffic in both directions, for an overall length of approximately 3 km.
The technological platform developed by MOVYON ensures the use of the available fourth lane for temporary vehicular traffic when specific conditions occur on the route, measured through the processing of data acquired by sensors and algorithms used for analysing and predicting traffic flow.
The programme coordinates:
- traffic analysis through sensors
- the signalling of lane-use variation and speed limits to travelling users.
In addition, the Automatic Incident Detection (AID) system detects all potentially dangerous traffic events such as vehicles stopped in the dynamic lane, vehicles on the wrong side of the road and traffic jams.
The occurrence of one of these events results in real-time alerts being sent to operators in the radio room and the emergency lane being closed to traffic. Monitoring is carried out thanks to radar, laser scanners and cameras equipped with artificial intelligence algorithms that continuously scan road and traffic.
The second section up to the Lambro service area is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023 and the final section by the end of 2024.
Interventions to foster the territory
These interventions, financed and planned by Autostrade per l'Italia, are among those already completed:
- the construction of an acoustic mitigation tunnel with a total length of approximately 500 m in the municipality of Cinisello Balsamo aimed at mitigating the noise caused by motorway traffic, as well as the construction of a public square above the motorway tunnel as a link between the Crocetta district and Matteotti Park;
- the upgrading of via Torino, between the municipality of Cormano and the municipality of Novate Milanese;
- the construction of a new railway overpass to replace the existing one.
The following interventions are being completed:
- the upgrading of the motorway subway called “Marianella”, which will become a cycle and pedestrian path;
- the construction of approximately 10.5 km of new noise barriers.
A8 MILAN - GALLARATE (FIFTH LANE)
Description of the asset
The project provides for the upgrading of the section to a 5-lane + emergency lane on the approximately 4.4 km stretch between the Milano Nod barrier and the Lainate interconnection.
The intervention aims at ensuring continuity to the 3-lane expansion of the A9 motorway while guaranteeing access roads to the exhibition centre and the Expo area. In addition, the link between the SS 33 'Sempione' road and the SS 233 'Varesina' road, which also serves as an entry route to the motorway, is to be upgraded.
The intervention also includes the overturning of the Lainate toll booth and the consequent retrofitting of the junction system.
The intervention was divided into two lots:
- Lot 1, between the Milano Nord barrier and the Villoresi service area, approximately 1.7 km long, was opened to traffic on 29 April 2015, right before the start of the Expo 2015 events;
- Lot 2, between the Villoresi service area and the Lainate interconnection, where works are in progress.
Interventions to foster the territory
The intervention also includes:
- installation of approximately 5,000 thousand acoustic barriers;
- new vehicular underpass at the Lainate interconnection;
- external roads connecting the territory;
- completion of Origgio Ovest junction manoeuvres.
A1 MILANO SUD - LODI (FOURTH LANE)
Description of the asset
The intervention consists in modernising and widening the A1 motorway to the fourth lane, for approximately 16.9 km, between the Milano Sud barrier and the Lodi junction; the need for modernisation is due to the considerable traffic increase that has recently affected the section and is aimed at ensuring the necessary levels of service and safety.
Following the sharing of the project choices with the Local Authorities, an authorisation process started, and this led to a positive outcome of the Conference of Services in March 2017.
The work is scheduled to start by the first half of 2023 and is expected to last 36 months. To make sure deadlines are met, preliminary activities started in November 2022.
As regards operation, three interventions parts have been identified to ensure works proceed with staggered construction sites (alternatively on the northern or southern carriageway), guaranteeing traffic fluidity and avoiding the absence of the emergency lane for extended sections along the same carriageway.
Interventions to foster the territory
The following works, financed and planned by Autostrade per l'Italia, concern the installation of acoustic barriers:
- the new roundabout between the Melegnano-Binasco junction and SP40;
- the new Ceregallo roundabout;
- the new roundabout along Via Matteotti;
- the new roundabout on SP115;
- the adaptation of the roundabout along Via Piave;
- the upgrading of Via Piave with road adaptation and a new roundabout;
- the construction of cycle paths along the municipal road to Capriano, the SP204 and via S. Lucio.
DALMINE JUNCTION
Description of the asset
The project consists in the adaptation of the Dalmine junction, at km 168+300 of the A4 motorway on the Milano-Bergamo section and involves the construction of a new entrance ramp at the toll station and the strengthening of the existing ramp for flows exiting the toll station and directed towards the local road network, with the aim of increasing the permeability of the infrastructure and reducing interference with the local road network.
The initiative involves the municipalities of Dalmine and Stezzano in the province of Bergamo and is crucial for the industrial and economic complexity of the area, one of the most industrialised contexts in Italy and Europe (Dalmine steelworks, the Km-Rosso, Brembo, etc.).
Following the sharing of the project choices with the Local Authorities, an authorisation process started, and this led to a positive outcome of the Conference of Services in June 2020.
The final approval by the MIT, in line with current regulations, was received on 21 February 2023. The work is scheduled to start by April 2023, with an expected total duration of 16 months. To make sure deadlines are met, preliminary activities started in November 2022.
During the works, temporary roads will be set up where necessary to ensure traffic flow.
Interventions to foster the territory
The following works, financed and designed by Autostrade per l'Italia, concern the inclusion of vegetation along the ramps:
- the construction of sound-absorbing acoustic barriers at exposed receptors
- the construction of part of a cycle path.
SESTO SAN GIOVANNI JUNCTION
Description of the asset
The project envisages the retrofitting of the Sesto San Giovanni junction, in Cinisello Balsamo (MI), to accommodate traffic flows on the section of the A4 Torino-Venezia motorway between the Sesto San Giovanni junction and the Milano Est barrier.
In order to make the most of the benefits deriving from the upgrade to the dynamic fourth lane of the preceding section of the A4 Torino-Trieste motorway, this initiative envisages the reorganisation of the existing motorway junction by separating traffic flows, improving its functionality, and reducing queues at the entrance and exit.
The basic design of the initiative is being defined.
Work is scheduled to be completed and open to traffic by the end of 2028.
Interventions to foster the territory
The Sesto San Giovanni junction being upgraded affects the peri-urban area of the municipality of Cinisello Balsamo in the province of Milan. Its retrofitting also includes the expansion of the motorway entrance/exit ramps to several lanes and the separation of traffic flows in the direction of Lecco and Milan through the construction of a new tunnel and the reuse of the existing one for one-way traffic.
