New works
The approvals procedure for a work
Ongoing works
Progress Report
The impact on traffic
The communications plan
Compulsory Purchase



New works: watch the video of major projects

New works: Download the guide to "Ongoing works"

Telepass Premium

Unpaid toll ticket
Formalities for Works Approval

 Plan your journey

Formalities for Works Approval

Under current legislation, implementing the investments plan requires a long and complex phase authorisation under environmental and town-planning aspects by Ministries and competent bodies, even for simple cases of lane widening. The road to approval can even last several years (e.g. more than 8 years for the "Variante di Valico" on the Florence-Bologna section). Mostly regarding works in progress, it can be broken down as follows:

1st
PHASE		 DRAWING UP OF PRELIMINARY PROJECT
by Autostrade per l'Italia
DRAWING UP OF PRELIMINARY PROJECT
      The preliminary design defines the preliminary lines of implementation and the works feasibility, taking account of the environmental- and road network constraints of the current planning instruments.
2nd
PHASE		 INCLUSION OF THE PROJECT DESIGN IN THE AGREEMENT WITH ANAS
by Autostrade per l'Italia and Anas		 INCLUSION OF THE PROJECT DESIGN IN THE AGREEMENT WITH ANAS
      The Preliminary Project design, with the expected expenses, is entered into an additional deed to the Agreement with ANAS. This deed must be approved with a decree by the competent ministers and registered by the Court of Accounts.
The initial expenditure provisions and completion timescales can change during the approval procedure as a result of authorisation delays, prescriptions (requests of design changes), etc.
3rd
PHASE		 DRAWING UP OF FINAL PROJECT DESIGN
by Autostrade per l'Italia 		DEFINITIVE PROJECT
      The Final Project is provided with an Environmental Impact Study and is discussed with the Area Bodies to check the need to integrate requests and recommendations and agree on the works in favour of the area.
4th
PHASE		 TECHNICAL VALIDATION
by Anas		 TECHNICAL VALIDATION
      The Final Project design receives Technical Validation from ANAS in order to ensure that the design meets the legislation and contractual obligations undertaken by Autostrade per l'Italia.
5th
PHASE		 ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ("VIA")
By the Ministries for the Environment and for Cultural Heritage and Activities		 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (E.I.A.)
      After acquiring the professional approvals of the Regions involved, the Minister for the Environment and for the Cultural Heritage and Activities issue their final opinion of environmental compatibility of the Final Project and of the related Environmental Impact Study.
6th
PHASE		 SERVICE CONFERENCE
by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport		 SERVICE CONFERENCE
      The Services Conference brings together all the bodies that are competent for issuing the authorisations to the project: the Ministries for Infrastructures and Transport, the Environment, for Cultural Heritage and Activities, the Regions, Provinces, Municipal Councils, Mountain Communities, Basin Authorities, Regional Agencies for Prevention and the Environment, Companies (e.g. ENEL, RFI), etc..
For the approval of the works in a Services Conference, it is necessary for all the responsible bodies (sometimes over 30) to give their unanimous approval. Often design changes are requested that make it necessary to re-start the authorisation process from the phase of drafting the Final Project design.
7th
PHASE		 DRAWING UP OF THE FINAL DESIGN
by Autostrade per l'Italia 		DRAWING UP THE EXECUTIVE PROJECT
      The Final Project design integrates all the requests and requirements (for example more than 1,000 for the "Variante di Valico" alone) emerging from the Services Conference. The conformity of the Final Project to the above requirements is verified by the competent Bodies. Sometimes adaptations to meet rules and standards require design updates and the starting over again of certain approval procedures.
8th
PHASE		 PROJECT DESIGN APPROVAL
by Anas		 PROJECT APPROVAL
      The Project design is submitted for approval by ANAS, which declares the work as being "of public utility" for the purposes of starting the procedures for expropriation of the works areas.
9th
PHASE		 PUBLIC TENDER
by the Ministerial Commission 		TENDER
      Once the Project has obtained approval, it is time to launch the public tender. The assigning of the contract is done by an ad hoc Commission appointed by the Ministry.
10th
PHASE		 WORKS DELIVERY AND EXECUTION
by the Contractor. Works management is by Autostrade per l'Italia		 START-UP AND EXECUTION OF THE WORKS
      The Project moves on to its implementation phase: the supply contracts are signed, the work sites are opened and the works are begun. Further permits are required also in this phase (for example town-planning permission for the "Worksite fields", etc.). The works are subject to supervision by ANAS and to the monitoring by Guarantee Observers and Committees if instituted.
11th
PHASE		 OPENING TO TRAFFIC OPEN TO TRAFFIC
      Subject to a practicability check by ANAS, the section that has undergone the works is opened to traffic.

The works implementation timescales may also be affected by unforeseen technical and geological factors and by possible financial difficulties of the contractors, which are selected by an appropriate Ministerial Commission.