Project Introduction and Objectives

The project for the construction of new sidewalks along the former State Road No. 42, now the Provincial Road Via Nazionale, represents a fundamental opportunity to improve road safety in the Crist hamlet of Niardo.

The intervention provides for the creation of a 200-meter pedestrian path on the right side of the Provincial Road, crossing the residential area of Niardo, from Braone towards Breno. The absence of a safe transit space between private properties and the roadway posed a significant danger both for vehicles entering the road and for pedestrians, who were forced to walk only 40 cm away from the edge line of the carriageway.

 

Design Solutions

The main intervention consists in moving back nine private properties located in hazardous areas, distancing them 2 meters from the roadway to allow for the construction of a 1.5-meter-wide sidewalk, accessible also to people with disabilities.

The project also involves burying the utilities (electricity, public lighting, and fiber optics), which until now were arranged on overhead lines, creating visual and maintenance issues. A new drainage system has been planned for the collection of stormwater, consisting of perforated side inlets, which can be inspected and cleaned through dedicated manholes.

 

Safety and Morphological Continuity

The Crist hamlet is distributed on both sides of Via Nazionale and, for its inhabitants, circulation along the former SS42 has always represented a danger due to the intensity and speed of traffic. Although traffic volumes decreased after the opening of the new SS42 about ten years ago, the perception of danger along Via Nazionale remains.

The Municipality of Niardo has long been committed to increasing safety along the road. With this project, approximately 230 meters of sidewalk will be completed, ensuring safer exits for the surrounding homes and safer cycle-pedestrian transit.

 

Technical Details

The new sidewalk, 1.5 meters wide, will house utilities underneath. A new stormwater drainage system will be built, in continuity with the section already constructed. The system includes perforated inlets placed laterally along the curb, with manholes for inspection and cleaning. Existing catch basins on the road platform, currently located along the shoulder, will be repositioned within the new sidewalk.

Overhead lines for electricity, street lighting, and fiber optics will be buried along the entire new section, in continuity with existing ducts. Service manhole covers located along the shoulder will be raised to the level of the sidewalk. In addition, for the entire intervention stretch, the methane gas connections will be renewed by the utility provider Blu Reti Gas Srl.

 

Conclusion

This project will not only improve the safety of the residents of the Crist hamlet, but will also enhance the aesthetic and functional harmony of the area. The construction of these new sidewalks represents a significant step toward safer and more accessible mobility for all.