Salerno opposition raises concerns over Porta Ovest project costs and delays

Opposition groups in Salerno, including AVS, Movimento 5 Stelle, and Salerno Democratica, have raised concerns regarding the “Porta Ovest” project. Originally launched as an international competition in 2007 to improve port traffic and connections to the Gatto viaduct, the project has significantly deviated from its initial objectives.

The original plan, estimated at approximately 116 million euros with a duration of less than two years, has seen costs rise to roughly 200 million euros, with timelines extending beyond thirteen years. Critics point out that the project was split into two phases in 2012, focusing first on tunnels and road infrastructure, and later on junctions and connections.

In 2022, ANAC noted the necessity of completing complementary works to ensure the tunnels remain functional. A new contract for completing junctions was signed in 2023 with a funding allocation of approximately 43 million euros.