The project aimed at the functional restoration of the last stretch of the Bisagno River, at improving downflow conditions, and at the urban and road reorganisation of the surrounding areas (from Via Canevari to the sea).
Six years’ work, an expenditure of 166 million euro, 250,000 m3 of material to be demolished and dug out beneath the existing coverage of the Bisagno River. These three figures gives an idea of the complexity of the Bisagno coverage restoration works: a project planned from many years in order to avoid further devastating floods, that made also possible to change the look of one of Genoa’s most beautiful avenues.
On completion of the works, the maximum hydraulic discharge of the final stretch of the Bisagno River will increase from previous 500 m3 per second to 850. To reach this goal, the existing utility networks (e.g. cables, electric lines, etc) have been moved, a provisional soldier-pile wall has been built on both sides to protect the buildings overlooking the worksite, the present reinforced concrete coverage that has suffered serious saline damage has been demolished, the depth of the existing supporting panels has been increased in order to increase the hydraulic section, and lastly the panels and the coverage have been reconstructed.
To reduce the impact on traffic, the worksites have been opened in alternate stages, first in the eastern and then in the western section, in order to reroute traffic according to site needs. The project also includes the construction of three large roundabouts at the main crossroads and the eastern access to the flyover have been completely changed, with the construction of a new access road near the Trade Fair ticket office.