Landslide in Molise, section of the A14 motorway reopened. The government launches the first interventions

On the A14 motorway, the sections between Vasto sud and Termoli in the direction of Bari and between Poggio Imperiale and Vasto sud in the direction of Pescara, previously closed due to the reactivation of the landslide movement in Petacciato, Molise, have been reopened. This was announced by Aspi, pointing out that since yesterday "more than 100 people and 40 Autostrade per l'Italia vehicles have been engaged, even during the night, in the activities of restoring and securing the northern carriageway". The reopening to traffic was possible thanks to the installation of a diversion lane along the northern carriageway, where circulation is guaranteed both towards Pescara and towards Bari with one lane in each direction.

In the meantime, the government is running for cover over the landslide in Molise that brought the Adriatic side to its knees on Tuesday, 7 April, blocking trains and impeding circulation on the road network. And already today a measure is expected in the Council of Ministers with interventions from Palazzo Chigi, after a control room convened by Prime Minister Meloni yesterday afternoon that decided to allocate immediate resources to reopen the connections. There is still no certain date, but the initial allocation is intended to get the three nerve centres affected by the landslide back on their feet: the Adriatic railway network, the A14 motorway and state road 16. Around the table, in addition to the prime minister, are the deputy prime minister and Minister of Infrastructure Matteo Salvini, the head of Civil Protection Fabio Ciciliano, Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano and the commanding general of the Capitanerie Sergio Liardo, together with the operational heads of Ferrovie dello Stato, Rfi, Anas and Autostrade per l'Italia. At the same time, at the Mit, Salvini - who will be up in the affected areas today for an inspection - has set up a technical round table dedicated to the consequences of the bad weather in Molise, Abruzzo and Apulia.

The minister collected the updated data and gave the go-ahead for the first interventions, with a declared objective: to reopen as soon as possible. The A14 motorway, explains a note issued by the ministry, could be passable again "already in the next few days" in both directions in the section between Vasto Sud and Poggio Imperiale. The situation on the ordinary road network is more complex: the reopening of State Road 16 and State Road 709 remains linked to the monitoring of the landslide, which continues to move and calls for caution.

On the railway front, circulation on the Adriatic line between Pescara and Foggia will resume gradually from Friday at 6 a.m., with a precautionary reduction in speed, the FS group announced. More than 60 technicians from Rete Ferroviaria Italiana and contractors have been working in the field non-stop since today evening. However, there remains a transitional phase: until the full restoration of capacity, High Speed, Intercity and regional trains may be delayed, modified or cancelled. Landslide monitoring continues in parallel, with instrumental and visual checks coordinated with the Civil Protection.

The picture remains evolving. But in the meantime, the bill for companies is growing. The Petacciato landslide, Fiap hauliers report, has simultaneously blocked the A14, state road 16 and the Adriatic railway, turning an infrastructural emergency into an immediate shock for logistics. Alternative routes lengthen journeys by about 250 kilometres, increasing operating costs by up to 70 per cent, with no automatic coverage in contracts. "This is not a temporary inconvenience: it is a fracture in the country's logistics system," attacks secretary general Alessandro Peron. "Companies travel hundreds of extra kilometres for each delivery, with times that break through the driving limits set by European regulations." Hence the urgent request to the ministry: exemption from tolls on the A1 and A16, temporary suspension of overtaking bans on congested stretches, and the opening of a dedicated crisis table.