(Finance) – New resources for 750 million to be allocated to the modernization and management of the sections of High Adriatic highways which will generate important economic and social impacts throughout the territory. This is the result ofagreement signed today at the Palazzo della Regione Friuli-Venezia Giulia in Trieste fromsole director of Società Autostrade Alto Adriatico (SAAA), Anna di Pasqualefrom the Deputy General Manager and Business Director of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), Massimo Di Carloand from principal advisor for the Growth Capital and Project Finance department of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Simone Dell’Atti, in the presence of president of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region and Commissioner for the emergency of the A4, Massimiliano Fedriga.
In detail, the operation signed today is structured in two loans of 375 million each which the EIB and CDP have made available to Società Autostrade Alto Adriatico for the expansion and modernization of the motorway sections managed: A4 Venice-Trieste (which constitutes the main investment and provides for the completion of the construction of the third lane), A28 Portogruaro-Conegliano, A23 Palmanova-Udine, A57 Mestre ring road and A34 Villesse-Gorizia. The agreement also provides for theintervention by SACE with insurance coverage in the context of operations of strategic importance for the Italian economy in terms of the activation of production and employment processes.
THE works that will be funded they provide for the safety of the infrastructure, the decongestion of traffic and the maintenance of employment levels. Added to these are the benefits deriving from the modernization of a fundamental and strategic section which is part of the Lisbon-Kiev Corridor V of the TEN-T network and which represents a crucial junction in the connection of Eastern and Western Europe. Following an innovative award process, which saw the collaboration of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Veneto Regions with Italian and European authorities and stakeholders, Autostrade Alto Adriatico was set up by the Regions in 2018 and will manage the motorway sections “in-house” for the next 30 years, allowing resources to continue to be invested in the development of the territory and guaranteeing the maintenance of the employment level of all employees of Autovie Venete, current manager of the routes.
The granting of the loan follows the signing of theCooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, the Autonomous Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the Region of Veneto and Società Autostrade Alto Adriatico, which took place on 14 July 2022, and precedes the effective takeover of the management of the motorway sections by the Company Autostrade Alto Adriatico which is scheduled for June 2023.
“The operation signed today – he declared Fedriga – is functional to the continuation of the modernization works of a strategic infrastructure not only for Friuli Venezia Giulia but for the whole country, with a view to ever greater logistic integration with the main continental routes aimed at increasing the volume absorption capacity of traffic and to strengthen the levels of road safety”.
“It is the start date of a new phase of the process, the more operational one. In fact, after the takeover and the passing of the baton, the company, its shareholders and the granting body, with the help of the lenders, – he said By Pasquale – will have to be ready to manage and implement this innovative motorway management system with the necessary flexibility determined by the complex historical moment we are experiencing”.
“Once again, the synergy between national and European institutions – he declared By Charles – gave excellent results. Just a week ago, together with the other players involved, we announced an extraordinary operation for high-speed rail in Sicily and today as CDP we are here to confirm our support for another important and strategic road infrastructure in our country, the motorway in the Upper Adriatic, part of the corridor linking Eastern and Western Europe. For Cassa, therefore, the theme of sustainable infrastructural development remains central and follows the guidelines of the 2022-2024 Strategic Plan”.
“The EIB’s intervention will contribute to the modernization of the motorway network in the North-East quadrant, part of the TEN-T Mediterranean Corridor, a fundamental junction to help strengthen social, economic and territorial cohesion in the European Union – he commented Alessandro Izzo, Director for Growth Capital and Project Finance Operations at the EIB –. This operation will also contribute to both significantly improve road safety and increase traffic capacity in the country.”
“We are proud to support, with a virtuous public-private synergy, this important investment in an infrastructure of strategic importance such as the A4 Venice-Trieste motorway, which will bring concrete benefits to the community and the local economy – he declared Bernardo Attolico, chief business officer of SACE –. A modern and connected infrastructural heritage is essential for developing an effective and efficient mobility of goods and people, which can support the sustainable and long-term growth of companies and the country”.