The first major anti-seismic intervention on Italian freeways
Rome-L’Aquila-Teramo-Chieti-Pescara sections involved
Since May 2017, more than 70 construction sites have been opened by Toto Costruzioni Generali on the A24 and A25 freeways. This is an important order worth more than 110 million euros that has as its objective the urgent safety of the viaducts of the two freeways that cross one of the Apennine sections, between Lazio and Abruzzo, most affected in recent years by earthquakes.
In a few weeks, first thirty and then forty more construction sites have been opened along the freeway connecting Rome with L’Aquila, Teramo, Chieti and Pescara. The works are carried out both above and below the decks of the freeways managed by Strada dei Parchi Spa, and employ about 900 workers and specialized technicians.
The aim is to build steel and concrete structures capable of preventing the supports of the old decks from collapsing in the event of an earthquake, resulting in a step on the road surface that would be extremely dangerous for road users.
In order to work under the viaducts, scaffolding was built at the base of the piers and suspended scaffolding, anchored to the road surface, and highly specialized techniques and personnel are used to work suspended in the void.
On the Pietrasecca viaduct, on the A24 between Carsoli and Tagliacozzo, which reaches a height of 70 meters and is about 1 km and 800 meters long, there are currently 10 scaffoldings. Work is also underway on the San Sisto viaduct, which crosses the city of L’Aquila. Here in 2009, due to the earthquake, the road surface was undermined. There are 500 days foreseen for the interventions. The objective is to finish well ahead of schedule, so as to reduce inconvenience for travellers.
