Workers complete 2-km tunnel for Italy's Terzo Valico dei Giovi project by excavating on four fronts

Approximately 2 kilometres of excavation completed, including a passage just 18 metrer beneath Genoa–Milan rail line, which remained operational during works

A step forward for Terzo Valico, a strategic connection among Ligurian ports, Northern Italy and Europe along TEN-T Rhine-Alpine Corridor

Genoa, June 23, 2026 – Workers completed the excavation of the two-km-long Polcevera ventilation tunnel, part of the Terzo Valico dei Giovi–Genoa Junction Single Project in Italy, carried out by the General Contractor led by Webuild on behalf of RFI (FS Italiane Group), with support from FS Engineering (FS Italiane Group) and under the supervision of the Extraordinary Government Commissioner, Calogero Mauceri.

The excavation of the tunnel involved COSSI Costruzioni (Webuild Group), which worked on four fronts simultaneously, a solution that optimised timing while ensuring the highest operational and safety standards. The excavation method deployed was the traditional one. 

Work on the tunnel, which began in late October 2024, had to overcome significant technical and logistical challenges. The first excavation front required passing underneath the Genova–Milan railway. Excavation was carried out just 18 metres below the tracks, which remained in service without interruption or impact on rail traffic. To optimise the time schedule, from February 2025 two additional excavation fronts were opened, operating simultaneously in opposite directions along the tunnel axis. At the same time, a fourth excavation front focused on enlarging the tunnel section and creating underground chambers—spaces needed to house the facilities of the future ventilation system.

The Terzo Valico dei Giovi–Genoa Junction Single Project is part of the European Rhine-Alpine Corridor of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), one of the continent’s busiest routes. The project is designed to enhance connectivity between Ligurian ports, Northern Italy’s industrial base, and the  rest of Europe. Once completed, it will reduce travel time between Genoa and Milan to approximately 50 minutes, increasing both capacity and network reliability. The project will integrate itself with the existing railway at four key interconnections (Voltri, Genova Parco Campasso, Novi Ligure, and Tortona). It includes upgrades to the Genoa railway node.