Italian towns Ovada and Borgo Stazione begin urban renewal projects

In Ovada, Piedmont, authorities have issued a tender to award a contract for flood‑risk mitigation along the Orba River. The project, valued at about €1.4 million, includes raising protective barriers and creating water‑release zones to prevent future inundations like the devastating 2021 flood. The regional government has already contributed €2 million, and offers close by will close on 11 August.

In the town of Borgo Stazione, a €2.65 million first‑lot contract has launched a wider redevelopment plan that adds wider sidewalks, new green areas, a cyclist link to the train station and a multi‑level car‑and‑bike parking hub. The scheme also reduces many on‑street parking spaces and imposes a 30‑km/h zone on Via Roma, drawing criticism from local councilor Antonella Eloisa Gatta, who says the project overlooks safety, habitability and commercial needs.

Both initiatives form part of broader efforts to modernise small Italian municipalities, improve resilience to environmental hazards and enhance urban livability.