On the 09/04/2021 the Minister of Sustainable Infrastructures and Mobility, Enrico Giovannini, signed a Ministerial Circular which, updating the technical-regulatory framework defined by the circular issued in July 1967, introduces a new approach for surveillance and maintenance works in tunnels belonging to the national road network and motorways.  

The new document requires the motorway’s concession companies and Anas to develop a Surveillance Plan for each tunnel based on its physical and technical characteristics. In particular, by confirming the use of innovative methods and advanced technologies (georadar systems, scanners, etc.) for checking the condition and safety of tunnels , taking into account the degree of obsolescence of the various structural elements, it provides for the preparation of the Plan for each tunnel, in which all the technical data of the tunnel converge and the methods of checks to be implemented, the planned interventions and those already carried out are organically reported. 

The circular extends to the existing tunnels the obligations, already outlined by the Presidential Decree 207/2010 for the new constructions: the designer has to be responsible for drawing up the maintenance plan.  

The Minister - in order to extend the surveillance system to all the tunnels on the local road network  managed by the Territorial Authorities - sent  a draft circular to the Presidents of Territorial Authorities Conference to be submitted  for the opinion of the Unified Conference. For the new Ministerial circular visit https://www.mit.gov.it/. 14/21.