Tunnel hypothesis under Apuane springs up, but alderman holds back: idea all to be evaluated

The Tuscany Region is working on a project for a tunnel under the Apuan Alps to connect the Serchio Valley to Versilia. Unveiling the idea was regional councilor Mario Puppa with a post on his Facebook page, in which the two hypotheses were also revealed: the first is a tunnel starting from Cardoso, just above Seravezza, passing under Mount Forato and coming out at Fornovolasco on the road leading to Gallicano, while the second hypothesis is a tunnel in the Matanna area, starting from Casoli, above Camaiore, and coming either to the road leading to Fabbriche di Vergemoli, or to the road to Pescaglia. The tunnel would be reserved only for tourists and thus closed to heavy traffic.

“The project is ambitious, onerous, and complex,” Puppa explained, “but uniting two such important districts with a tourist road forbidden to heavy vehicles is not only fascinating, but would be a turning point for the territories’ economy. Prudence and feet on the ground are a must considering that in Garfagnana in the recent past we have already been engaged in a long discussion about another legendary tunnel, that of the Tambura. In that case the only hole was in the water. There are already some project hypotheses that could benefit from the upcoming European funds.... let’s be clear ... we are only at the embryonic stage of the route.”

Reached by the newspaper La Nazione, Puppa went on to say that “we are actually evaluating the possibility of opening up opportunities of this kind that would have important spin-offs for the entire Serchio Valley. These are projects in the embryonic state and to be evaluated in every possible aspect. Needless to hide, that I would be the first to oppose routes exempt from the utmost attention to territory and environment, but I certainly would not want to be on the side of those who oppose a priori even the evaluation of development hypotheses, compatible and sustainable. This, would allow a smooth road system with two areas of the same province and would be totally unrelated to the old project involving Monte Tambura and the municipality of Vagli Sotto. Nothing to do, even with the routine maintenance and investment to be continued on our roads. These are additional project routes, neither overlapping nor alternative to the rest, which would remain guaranteed.”

Naturally, the plan to puncture one of Tuscany’s most pristine areas has turned the noses of many, starting with the volunteer organization Apuane Libere, which works to protect this land. “We believe that this is just a partisan boutade to divert attention from the real problems that are killing Apuan ecosystems, and that is from those mining sites that we are beginning to oppose and shut down for blatant violations of the very few remaining laws on environmental protection; nevertheless, we will be ready to tie ourselves to the mountain in order not to let this umpteenth havoc pass,” they said. “Our voluntary organization is by statute totally nonpartisan, but while not siding with any faction, at the last regional elections it had warned voters of the neoliberal danger embodied by that Destruction Party that, with the Regional Quarry Plan, had already de facto gifted the Apuan Alps to greedy marble contractors. It is known by now even to the smallest floral endemism, that this regional junta (with Governor Giani at the head) hates the environment to such an extent that it subjugates it to the worst lobbies that profit from the destruction from the common goods of all, and continuing at this pace, even the Regional Natural Park will unfortunately be stripped of its Unesco World Geopark recognition.”

A discussion, with mostly critical tones, was inevitably produced on social media, and later in the day the councillor for infrastructure, Stefano Baccelli, arrived to tone it down: it would only be an academic study, based on two dissertations, and at the moment it would only be an idea at the attention of the Region, but still to be evaluated. For Baccelli, who spoke to Noi Tv, “I think it is serious to be able to investigate this hypothesis, but we need studies of economic feasibility, engineering, transportation, the hydraulic aspect, the landscape and environmental aspect. I think that we should not, on the one hand, either encourage excessive expectations or concerns from an environmental point of view. I think it can be an opportunity to go deeper into this issue and make a more accurate analysis.” Baccelli went on to say that for the Serchio Valley, the priority still remains road axes to ensure faster connections with the A11 Florence-Sea highway and Versilia.

Pictured is Mount Forato. Photo Francesco Bini

Tunnel hypothesis under Apuane springs up, but alderman holds back: idea all to be evaluated

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