Santa Caterina Overpass: inspection with Puglia Region and the Municipality of Bari: traffic opening in September

“In September, with the opening of the Santa Caterina overpass, the last Ferrovie Appulo Lucane level crossing in Bari will be eliminated,” said the Councilor for Infrastructure and Mobility of the Puglia Region, Raffaele Piemontese, during the inspection carried out this morning at the Santa Caterina overpass construction site, currently being built by Ferrovie Appulo Lucane in the Picone district of Bari. “The project, funded with 5.6 million euros, completes the ‘Strade Nuove’ project, for which the Region had already allocated 18.9 million euros to create three roundabouts, new road connections, the pedestrian and cycle underpass, the doubling of the FAL line towards the Policlinico, and the elimination of the level crossing in via delle Murge. Overall, the Region has invested 24.5 million euros to transform this quadrant of the city, improving railway safety, urban mobility, and quality of life. This is the vision of the Puglia Region,” concluded Piemontese, “to invest in works that do not only improve road conditions, but make our railways safer, cities more connected, and public transport increasingly competitive compared to car use.” “Today,” said the Mayor of Bari, Vito Leccese, “I wanted to be here to confirm the municipal administration’s attention toward the companies located in the Santa Caterina PIP area, which is affected by the Ferrovie Appulo Lucane works. In recent weeks, we have intensified discussions with FAL, receiving reassurances regarding the opening of the new road network scheduled for early September. At the same time, we have agreed with entrepreneurs on a path of constant dialogue with the administration to jointly address further issues affecting this area. We will continue to closely monitor the progress of the intervention,” added Leccese, “and maintain a constant dialogue with all parties involved, because our goal is to support the growth of this area and ensure the best conditions for businesses to work and invest, also through the implementation of strategic works like this one.” “This work,” said the President of Ferrovie Appulo Lucane, Vittorio Zizza, “is the result of synergy with the Puglia Region, which in recent years has invested energy and resources not only for the construction of new infrastructure for local public transport but also to guarantee the right to sustainable mobility. This intervention,” added Zizza, “is in addition to the 9 already completed by Fal as part of the Strade Nuove Project, carried out under a memorandum of understanding signed with the Puglia Region and the Municipality of Bari and inaugurated in November 2024, and it is proof that our Company, in addition to improving services for users, also contributes to the development of city roads and the urban regeneration of the territories served.” With the opening of the overpass to traffic, the Santa Caterina level crossing, which is the last Fal crossing in the city of Bari, will be eliminated. This will allow for the strengthening and speeding up of the railway line, increased safety, improved road circulation and livability between the Picone and Poggiofranco districts, and a reduction in harmful car exhaust emissions. “Our goal,” explained the General Manager of Ferrovie Appulo Lucane, Stefano Di Bello, “is to open to traffic in September.” We are aware of the inconvenience caused to motorists and local businesses and we apologize for it, but unfortunately, the works suffered delays initially due to various interferences (particularly with Enel) and, in recent months, due to frequent rains that delayed the production and delivery of the beams used for the bridge construction, which are manufactured outdoors. Now,” he added, “we are proceeding swiftly with only a few days of summer break. Our schedule includes: completion of works, finishes, accessory works, and static testing by August, and opening to traffic in September.” The new overpass will be just over 80 meters long, with two-way traffic for cars, a sidewalk for pedestrians on one side, and a cycle path on the other. This intervention was funded by the Puglia Region with 5.6 million euros (funding source Puglia Region FSC 2014-2020). These funds are in addition to the 18.9 million euros also allocated by the Puglia Region for the Strade Nuove interventions already completed by Fal, namely: 3 roundabouts (Via Tatarella/Via Matarrese; Via Mazzitelli/Cotugno/Bellomo; Viale Pasteur/Solarino/Murge); a cycle-pedestrian underpass between Viale Pasteur and Via Matarrese with 2.6 kilometers of cycle path; a new connecting road between Via Tatarella and Via Matarrese; a new circulation ring between Via Solarino and Via Cotugno; reorganization of the Polipark parking garage entrances/exits; doubling of the Fal Bari Policlinico line, and elimination of the Via delle Murge level crossing. To date, therefore, the Puglia Region has allocated a total of 24.5 million euros for all these interventions.