Southern Italy infrastructure: SS106 highway and Ionian railway upgrades

Major infrastructure projects are being proposed to improve connectivity and safety in Southern Italy along the Ionian coast.

Regarding road transport, Anas has evaluated several options for the southern section of the SS106 highway, spanning from Catanzaro to Reggio Calabria. The most cost-effective and rapid proposal is a coastal route featuring dual lanes, 27 interchanges, 126 viaducts, and 90 tunnels. This plan is estimated to cost 6.9 billion euros and take 14 years to complete, offering a 38-minute travel time saving compared to more expensive inland alternatives.

In parallel, efforts are underway to modernize the Ionian railway line connecting Reggio Calabria to Taranto. Current works between Sibari and Catanzaro Lido involve an investment exceeding 362 million euros to implement electrification, infrastructure upgrades, and the ERTMS technological system. While these improvements aim to increase reliability and frequency, they focus on upgrading the existing line rather than constructing a new high-speed track.