Design and construction management for the new access road to the port infrastructure of Savona. Savona Port Authority.

Project objective

With the construction of the new access road to the Port of Savona, the aim was to provide a rapid connection between the Port and the City, taking into account the environmental impact that this work could generate, being built not only close to the city centre but also adjacent to an important archaeological site and to the Priamar Fortress (16th century).
The pre-existing link road did not provide adequate functionality and often suffered from traffic congestion, with consequent impacts in terms of environmental effects such as noise and air pollution, as well as longer travel times and low levels of road safety.
The project provided for the construction of a roundabout intersection connecting to the existing urban road network on the city side (Corso Mazzini); a second new roundabout was also built within the port area near Piazza Rebagliati.
The new road connection runs almost entirely underground; a 295 m long cut-and-cover tunnel was constructed.

Main works

The intervention was carried out in accordance with the provisions of the urban planning instruments and, in particular, the “Master Plan” defined by architect Bofill of Barcelona (Spain).
From an environmental-impact perspective, the alignment is entirely underground, with the surface above almost entirely allocated to green areas.
For approximately two thirds of the total tunnel length, excavation was carried out in open cut, resulting in a typical closed rectangular section; the remaining part features large lateral openings on the railway-yard side.
The new road axis has a carriageway platform comprising two two-way lanes, with two 3.75 m lanes and 1.75 m side shoulders, alongside which two 1.00 m-wide service sidewalks were also provided; the internal clear height at any point over the road surface is greater than 5 m.
The reinforced-concrete structure was built using precast elements for the vertical structures and the slab.
The design of the lighting system and the related electrical systems was also developed.
During the works, it was necessary to relocate some railway tracks that interfered with the works, as well as to construct a new Customs Gate for access to the commercial port..