MERANO. The conclusion of the works in via Leonardo da Vinci, the replacement of the underground infrastructures, was brought forward to yesterday via Portici Superiore will start on January 7th to end on May 15th. Work on the third and final lot will therefore begin next year, which involves the complete replacement of the water, waste water, gas and electricity infrastructure with the inclusion of the provision for optical fiber in order to modernize the ability to use the internet connection in the historic center. On the last evening of presentation to residents and traders in the civic hall, the director of ASM Patrik König explained in detail the coordinates of these works which intersect with those of the construction of the ring road tunnel and the underground garage.
«The third lot will be complicated, as we have already been able to observe in via da Vinci where in certain sections it was necessary to proceed with “pail and shovel”, given the narrow spaces for maneuvering. Furthermore, the stability of the buildings on the street must be guaranteed and will be constantly monitored.” Necessary work, it was reiterated, in particular by showing the public how the water pipes in Via da Vinci due to corrosion which over time, accumulating residues, reduced the diameter from 50 to 20 cm.
The circulation
The traffic disruptions announced are also important, in particular due to the closure of the intersection between via Portici and via Cassa di Risparmio to traffic, underlined Riccardo Raffeiner of the local police. «Via Cassa di Risparmio will be off limits, while from the lower Portici it will be possible to turn into via Galilei. The entire stretch of the upper porticoes will be closed to traffic up to the Duomo with via da Vinci accessible in two alternating directions.” Inconveniences which, at least for the first few days, will be concentrated in particular at the intersection between via Portici and via Cassa di Risparmio. The intervention will start from this intersection.
This time too, explained Luca Musner, manager of the company carrying out the works, behind the intervention there was teamwork judged exceptional for the intensity of the collaboration between the municipal administration, represented at the meeting by the councilors Stefan Frötscher and Marco Perbellini , construction companies and traders or residents of the area. «Meetings of up to 14 people and collaboration with traders which will also be renewed for the upper arcades with the listening point on Thursday mornings at 9.30am», said Musner.
Mobile walkway
As with the previous two lots, a mobile walkway will be positioned to allow passage from one arch to the other of the Porticoes. Arches always free and which will be constantly cleaned by a designated company. For waste, however, door-to-door collection is guaranteed for six days a week, including Saturdays. The question of possible damage caused by the works is more delicate, mainly during the dismantling of the road surface and its restoration due to the mandatory use of mechanical means that produce vibrations.
«Before the start of the works, a technician will carry out an inspection of the buildings. The buildings will be mapped in 3D thanks to a new technology that will eventually make it possible to claim damages caused by the excavations themselves”, explained the technician.
The timetable
Weather permitting, the idea is to bring forward the end of the work. «For Easter?», the question of a trader. «During the operations in via da Vinci it practically never rained and therefore we proceeded quickly, finishing early. For the upper Porticoes we hope that the weather conditions will be equally clement. I remember that on some days sixteen workers worked at the same time on the second batch”, Musner’s cautious comment.
«If there is no two without three», commented Frötscher, «we hope that here too we will be able to bring forward the completion times of the construction site».