by InTrieste
Authorities in Muggia, a small town on the northern coast of the Adriatic Sea close to Trieste, are racing to restore a critical access road damaged by severe flooding during the September storms that swept across northeastern Italy.
Anas, the national agency responsible for Italy’s roadways, has committed to addressing the situation within days. The area in question, a key thoroughfare located near the Montedoro tunnel, was heavily impacted when torrential rain overwhelmed drainage systems, causing significant erosion and the collapse of part of the road surface. The damage has since restricted access to residents and businesses in the surrounding area.
The restoration work is aimed at ensuring that local residents, including those living in about 15 homes and one small business, can regain safe access to the area. Currently, the section around the roundabout and adjoining square has been cordoned off, with the municipality keen to expedite the repairs.
“We need to restore that area as soon as possible,” Muggia’s mayor, Paolo Polidori, said in a statement after a meeting he convened with Anas technicians, representatives from the local energy and water company Edr, and Muggia’s municipal offices. “The safety and accessibility of our residents is our top priority.”
The flooding, which followed an unusually intense period of rainfall, caused the underground water systems to overflow, damaging not only the road surface but also public infrastructure. The affected area has been closed off since the storm, forcing residents to seek alternative routes and leaving vehicles unable to access the zone.
Anas, which owns both the roundabout and the square, plans to conduct a thorough inspection of the site to determine the best approach for repairs. Parallel efforts by the Muggia municipality and Edr will involve additional monitoring of underground pipelines and drainage systems upstream and downstream to identify the root causes of the flooding.
“The flooding was unprecedented,” Mayor Polidori said. “It has become critical to examine our infrastructure more carefully, particularly the underground systems, to prevent this from happening again.”
The September storms, part of a broader pattern of extreme weather events tied to climate change, have left many parts of northeastern Italy grappling with repair and recovery. Local governments are working to not only restore damaged infrastructure but also to implement more resilient systems capable of withstanding future climate-related challenges.
In the case of Muggia, which sits near the Slovenian border, the flooding has brought attention to the vulnerabilities of its infrastructure, particularly in low-lying areas and around essential roadways. As the town’s restoration efforts progress, local officials are keen to avoid further delays in providing access to the small but vital community impacted by the damage.
“We have to make sure the situation is resolved quickly and permanently,” Polidori stressed, noting that while access is the immediate concern, a more comprehensive examination of the town’s stormwater management systems is underway.
The next steps for Anas and the town include assessing the structural integrity of other sections of the roadway and determining how to mitigate the effects of future storms. Meanwhile, authorities have urged patience from residents as work continues.
