The Ciclopedonale della Val Brembana, a vital artery for both local commuters and the region’s tourism economy, has become the center of a heated institutional dispute following revelations of a massive funding collapse. At the heart of the controversy is a missing €5 million investment that reportedly vanished due to administrative inertia, leaving key sections of the path closed and decaying.
Vittorio Milesi, a councilor for the Comunità Montana and the vice mayor of San Pellegrino Terme, has filed a formal inquiry (interpellanza) demanding answers from the entity’s president, Valeriano Bianchi. The inquiry focuses on the specific political and administrative decisions that led to the loss of these funds and the subsequent failure to maintain critical infrastructure in one of Lombardy’s most prominent valleys.
The situation has escalated from a budgetary dispute to a public safety concern. For over a year, significant portions of the path have remained inaccessible, effectively severing the connection between key points of interest and hindering the economic development of the “aree interne” (inner areas) that the funding was originally intended to support.
The Anatomy of a €5 Million Loss
The financial breakdown of the lost opportunity is stark. According to details emerging from a February 27 meeting convened by the Gal Valle Brembana, the Regione Lombardia and the Province of Bergamo had expressed a joint willingness to allocate €5 million for the enhancement of the cycle-pedestrian path. This total consisted of €4 million from the Region and €1 million from the Province.
Still, this funding was contingent upon a “co-financing” agreement. The Comunità Montana was required to contribute a matching €1 million, which was to be sourced from funds already assigned by the Region for the development of inner areas. According to Pasquale Gandolfi, the former president of the Province, the Comunità Montana’s failure to commit these funds triggered a domino effect, resulting in the cancellation of the entire €5 million package.
| Funding Source | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Regione Lombardia | €4 Million | Lost/Cancelled |
| Provincia di Bergamo | €1 Million | Lost/Cancelled |
| Comunità Montana (Match) | €1 Million | Not Provided |
| Total Project Value | €6 Million | Unfunded |
Milesi’s inquiry asks pointedly whether this decision has caused concrete damage to the territory, arguing that the loss of such a significant sum has compromised the valley’s tourism potential and economic growth.
Infrastructure in Decay: Closures and Landslides
While the bureaucratic battle over funding continues, the physical state of the path has deteriorated. By late February, the route between Piazza Granelli and the San Pellegrino variant bridge had already been closed for at least a year, creating a significant bottleneck for users.
The situation worsened on March 18, when a massive boulder crashed onto Via Tasso in San Pellegrino Terme. This geological event forced additional restrictions and closures on the cycle-pedestrian path, further limiting accessibility and raising urgent questions about the safety of the surrounding slopes.
These failures prompted a joint “order of the day” signed by institutional representatives on February 27. The document emphasizes the “necessity to jointly support emergency interventions” for extraordinary and urgent maintenance to ensure the path is fully reopened and critical sections are secured against further landslides.
The Human and Economic Cost
For the residents of Val Brembana, the path is not merely a leisure amenity but a strategic tool for sustainable mobility. The closures force pedestrians and cyclists back onto congested roads, increasing traffic and reducing the attractiveness of San Pellegrino Terme as a destination for “unhurried tourism.”
The “preoccupante” (worrying) situation described by local officials suggests that without immediate intervention, the image of the entire valley as a modern, accessible destination is at risk. The lack of maintenance is no longer just a financial oversight but a liability for public safety.
A Roadmap for Recovery
Despite the lost 2024 funding, a narrow window for recovery remains. During the February meetings, the Province confirmed a willingness to allocate €1 million in the 2026 budget for path interventions—provided the Comunità Montana finally agrees to a financial partnership.
Milesi has proposed a concrete strategy to secure the necessary matching funds without straining the general budget. He suggests the Comunità Montana leverage a combination of the following sources:
- BIM Funds: Utilizing annual quotas of the BIM funds specifically designated for the Valle Brembana.
- Extraordinary Grants: Requesting special contributions from the Consorzio BIM and the Fondazione Cariplo.
- Regional Re-engagement: Attempting to persuade Regione Lombardia to restore the original €4 million contribution.
The success of this plan now depends on a new political alignment. Milesi notes that these possibilities must be verified with the new president of the Province, Gianfranco Gafforelli, to ensure that the 2026 commitments remain intact.
The current inquiry to Valeriano Bianchi seeks a transparent explanation of the “political and administrative motivations” that led to the 2024 failure. The community is now waiting to see if the Comunità Montana will pivot toward the proposed collaborative funding model or if the Ciclopedonale della Val Brembana will continue to serve as a symbol of institutional gridlock.
The next critical checkpoint will be the formal response from President Valeriano Bianchi to the interpellanza, which is expected to clarify the entity’s current financial position and its intentions for the 2026 budget cycle.
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