Genoa, February 18, 2025 - Today, in the Genova Brignole construction site a technical site visit took place by the Italian Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Matteo Salvini, at the heart of Ligurian construction sites of the "Terzo Valico - Genoa Junction" One Project.

The event was attended by the Vice Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Edoardo Rixi, the Extraordinary Commissioner of the One Project, Calogero Mauceri, the President of the Liguria Region, Marco Bucci, the person acting as Genoa Mayor, Pietro Piciocchi, the Webuild Operation Rail Italia Director, Nicola Meistro, and the Vice Director Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (FS Group), Vincenzo Macello. 

The Genoa Junction project aims at separating long-distance and freight traffic from urban/regional traffic, with a consequent increase of the rail capacity of the entire regional network. It is composed of two new tracks being built and is divided into: the "Sestuplicamento" (six-times-greater) section between Genova Piazza Principe and Brignole, the "Quadruplicamento" (four-times-greater) section between Genova Voltri and Sampierdarena, the Bivio Fegino-Campasso-Porto Storico connection and the new Genova Voltri Town Plan. 

The visit concerned the "Sestuplicamento" construction site, starting from Brignole station, moving along the two new tracks connecting to Genova Piazza Principe station, created by lengthening the existing Colombo and S. Tomaso tunnels, which will be used exclusively for regional/urban traffic, and will allow eliminating the current interferences present in the existing connection.

Those present witnessed that excavations, the final tunnel linings and ongoing external works concerning the new artificial tunnel and existing station underpasses have all been completed.  

Works concerning the "Quadruplicamento" section between Voltri and Sampierdarena with the two new tracks obtained with the completion of the Bretella di Voltri, which will be dedicated to long-distance connections (freight and passengers), allowing a direct connection to the Terzo Valico dei Giovi for freight trains coming from/going to Porto di Prà-Voltri, were illustrated. Here, the excavation works and those concerning the final lining of the Polcevera tunnel and Interconnection structures with the Terzo Valico have been completed, and the external works of civil works, rail technological plants and track laying activities are ongoing. 

The occasion allowed to think about the situation of the Terzo Valico works, detailing the issues faced by the construction site during the past months, especially in the Vallemme-Redimero section, concerning the blocked cutting-heads and the finding of a great amount of methane gas. 

With regard to these topics, following the technical tables of the responsible bodies, specific modes concerning activities aimed at re-starting excavations were identified. 

These actions, yet in an experimental phase, particularly concern continuing controlled investigations on rock materials to intercept and control the outflow of gas, also strengthening the ventilation system, while totally waterproofing the tunnel and excavating with explosives in a controlled way. This method will be gradually adjusted as works proceed according to the actual conditions found. Since last December, detailed activities for each of the above actions have already been planned, started and partly carried out.

The meeting ended with the announcement stating that there will be an open day in the Genoa Junction/Terzo Valico construction sites on March 30.