Bologna Bypass Project Earns an Envision Platinum Award
25-May-2022
A key upgrade to the Italian city’s highway connector system, the project focused on the creation of well-integrated infrastructure in collaboration with stakeholders, systematically reducing noise and air pollution. The project also emphasized social and economic benefits, including the extension of parkland and the addition of 20 km of cycling paths. 4.5 million fewer hours of road travel per year will result, translating to 1,350 tons less carbon dioxide.
Serving as a vital transportation node for Italy and providing a strategic artery for a leading national manufacturer, the Bologna highway system is closely tied to the country’s economic prosperity.
This is the first highway infrastructure project in Europe to obtain a Platinum Award under Envision®. At a cost of €1.5 billion, the bypass will strengthen the urban section of the A14 expressway linking Bologna, Bari, and Taranto with an extension of approximately 13 kilometers. While retaining connections with the A1 expressway linking Milan and Naples, and the A13 (Bologna-Padua) expressway, the bypass speeds up access to Bologna via the city’s ring road system.
Vehicles will spend approximately 4.5 million fewer hours on the road per year as a result of the project. This will significantly enhance the quality of life in local communities and reduce CO2 emissions in metropolitan Bologna substantially (1,350 tons per year).
A significant feature of this project was that the design addressed not only the needs of vehicular traffic, but also the necessity of connecting the A14 highway with other transportation modes, all informed by a strong network logic. The purpose was to integrate the bypass with key urban junctions and existing local infrastructure in a way that would generate socioeconomic value, maximize benefits and promote sustainability.
A public-private partnership (PPP) project, the Bologna bypass also benefited from the strong work of an interdisciplinary project team emphasizing transparency and broad stakeholder involvement throughout the design process. With this foundation, a transformative project took shape focusing on the environment, innovation, and mobility.
Learn more about why this project earned a Platinum rating by visiting the Project Profile
