After three years of waiting, the renovation works on the Desenzano railway viaduct will finally begin. The project, costing 16 million euros, will be divided into two technical and functional sections and aims to bring the structure up to seismic regulations and resolve issues caused by erosion.
The first phase of the works will involve the 7 spans on the Brescia side and will have an impact on the traffic on Via Bezzecca. However, efforts will be made to manage vehicular and pedestrian transit in order to ensure smooth flow and safety.
The park area beneath the viaduct will be closed until the completion of the project, which is expected to last several months. The exact duration of the works is still uncertain, but it is hoped that they will be completed as quickly as possible.
The local population has been eagerly anticipating this project, as the area beneath the railway bridge has been cordoned off for months, causing significant difficulties for pedestrians and cyclists.
The intervention has been authorized by the Superintendent’s Office as part of the overall maintenance activities for the viaduct. Rete ferroviaria italiana, the parent company of the Infrastructure Division of the Italian FS Group, has been involved in the replacement of the parapets in recent months.
Although the works were initially planned as routine maintenance, they have proven to be more complicated than expected. This has caused a delay in the start of the works and necessitated important structural adjustments for the safety of the structure.
The Desenzano railway viaduct is 427 meters long and over 30 meters high. It was inaugurated in 1854, but a large part of its structure was destroyed by American bombings in 1944 and subsequently rebuilt in 1947.
The main objective of the works is to ensure safety standards for train circulation on the Milan-Venice line, which is heavily traveled. Additionally, efforts will be made to consolidate the spaces in the park area between the various piers of the arches.
Italian Version
