Project Overview

Autostrade per l’Italia has achieved an Envision Silver Award for the A13 Bologna – Ferrara: Expansion to Third Lane – Bologna Arcoveggio-Ferrara Sud Section Project, the third Italian highway infrastructure initiative to earn Envision verification.

This expansion project focuses on adding a third lane to the A13 highway, specifically in the Bologna Arcoveggio-Ferrara Sud section, and forms part of a larger set of improvements along approximately 33 kilometers of the A13. This section runs entirely within the Emilia-Romagna region, passing through the provinces of Bologna and Ferrara. It involves the municipalities of Bologna, Castel Maggiore, Bentivoglio, Malalbergo, and Galliera in the Bologna province, as well as Poggio Renatico and Ferrara in the Ferrara province. In addition to enhancing the existing roadway infrastructure, the project includes two main types of environmental mitigation and landscape integration: sound barriers and landscaping strips along the entire route. In line with planning guidelines, the designs for overpasses have been modified to incorporate bike paths that connect to the local cycling network.

Beyond the immediate highway improvements, the project also involves the redevelopment of Provincial Road SP20, as outlined in the agreed-upon interventions for the area in collaboration with relevant authorities. During the planning process, various alternatives were compared across four main categories: roadway design, hydraulic considerations, geotechnical factors, and structures. This evaluation aimed to identify the best configuration in terms of safety, risk reduction, and environmental impacts. The project features both symmetric and asymmetric expansion sections. The asymmetric sections were carefully designed to avoid existing structures alongside the southbound lane and to limit interference with the protected SIC/ZPS area in the municipality of Bentivoglio.

This expansion also includes necessary adjustments or complete replacements of major structures along the route, such as bridges and underpasses. Comprehensive structural investigations indicated that most major structures needed replacement or upgrades. The addition of a third lane also necessitates geometric adjustments to the ramps of interchanges and service areas due to the increased width of the highway and the adoption of modern design standards that enhance traffic flow and safety. Moreover, the project includes various interventions aimed at environmental mitigation to improve acoustic conditions in affected areas. This encompasses the addition of green spaces and compensatory works, such as landscaping strips along the highway, as well as upgrading Provincial Road SP20, which involves resurfacing the road, adding resting areas, and constructing new roundabouts.

Verified Sustainability Achievements

Given the project’s strategic significance at international, national, and metropolitan levels—especially with regard to key transportation corridors like the Bologna Bypass—it represents a culmination of innovative ideas and optimizations according to the five sustainability categories defined in the Envision framework. For the Quality of Life category, the design team focused on several key improvements that include enhancing traffic conditions on the existing network, which comprises both carriageways and cycle paths, and modernizing routes to improve road safety. The project aims to preserve local identity and promote environmental quality while balancing territorial concerns, incorporating thoughtful architectural elements (such as overpasses, noise barriers, and variable signage portals), as well as implementing strategies for noise mitigation. Furthermore, significant effort has been dedicated to the project’s material resources, resulting in positive outcomes in the Resource Allocation category by selecting low-impact materials and certified suppliers. Effective waste management strategies were also implemented during both the construction and operation phases, focused on minimizing material disposal to enhance recovery and recycling efforts. Water conservation measures were prioritized by adopting softscape species that eliminate the need for irrigation during operation. Investments concentrated on protecting and enhancing the environment, particularly within the Natural World category. Special emphasis was placed on implementing and selecting softscape initiatives, promoting the sustainable use of environmental resources, minimizing land use, and designing ecological linkages. Additionally, considerable effort was made to address the Climate and Resilience category by conducting climate risk and vulnerability analyses to identify and implement necessary adaptation measures. Consequently, design considerations for project resilience included features such as automation and control systems, SOS stations, video surveillance, variable message panels, weather monitoring stations, and connections to a national fiber optic backbone for telecommunications.

This project’s Envision Silver Award reflects a strong commitment to thoughtful design that engages the community and aligns with both national and international sustainability standards. This accomplishment was made possible by the dedication of the design team, led by Tecne, the engineering firm within the Autostrade per l’Italia Group, along with ASPI’s commitment to ensuring the sustainability of its projects. The success of this effort was supported by the “Guidelines for the Application of the Envision Protocol to Road Infrastructures of Autostrade per l’Italia.” These guidelines demonstrate the Autostrade per l’Italia Group’s dedication to sustainability by establishing a common framework for implementing sustainable practices, providing practical operational support and clear recommendations for all stakeholders in the supply chain.