Relieving traffic north of the city: Confartigianato supports the project of four municipalities.

A shared project to revolutionize the road system north of Padua is finally taking shape. The municipalities of Vigodarzere, Limena, Cadoneghe, and Padua have agreed on a sustainable and engineeringly sound route, the result of a feasibility study that redesigns access to the city, decongesting one of the most critical areas for traffic, pollution, and delays.

Confartigianato Imprese Padova, which has been pushing for a structural solution for this crucial area for years, is strongly supporting this development. Today, alongside the mayors, the association is relaunching its request to higher education institutions: immediate resources and a clear timeline for the project's implementation. Gianluca Dall'Aglio, president of Confartigianato Imprese Padova, states: "For the first time, we have a united territory and a concrete idea on the table. Our businesses, which every day lose time and competitiveness stuck in traffic, are demanding that this project not remain on paper. This involves over 5,000 artisan businesses, if we consider only those operating in the area, and many more if we consider those passing through. This is a battle for growth, sustainability, and quality of life."

The project involves the construction of a new, modern, functional road infrastructure, tightly connected to the existing transport system. The preferred route extends east of the railway line, creating a strategic connection between the SR 307—just below Terraglione—and the Padua Northern Ring Road, near the southern area of Altichiero. A series of key interchanges will be located along this axis, streamlining traffic flows and enhancing modal interchanges. These include direct connections to the Vigodarzere train station and the northern terminus of the Padua tram line. A new interchange, called "del Giglio," on the Northern Ring Road is also planned, along with a series of strategic roundabouts on Via Semitecolo, Via Roma, and Via Franceschina, designed to optimize local traffic flow and alleviate critical traffic congestion.

The infrastructure will also include new bridges over the Muson and Brenta rivers and an integrated cycle network, including the redevelopment of the Reni roundabout and existing cycle paths. A key feature will be the new bridge over the Brenta River, exiting Vigodarzere, and the RFI railway underpass connecting the Battisti and Mani areas. The project is completed by the redevelopment of the road between Belladoro and Bragni and a second railway underpass at Via Brisighella. The most significant engineering project involves the reuse of the abandoned RFI railway line: a disused railway line that will be converted into a new arterial road also equipped with a cycle path. The entire infrastructure was designed to encourage the shift from private vehicles to public transport, thanks to the presence of efficient interchanges with trams, trains, and park-and-ride facilities. This integrated system is designed to permanently improve the quality of mobility in the northern Padua area. Dall'Aglio adds: "The northern part of the city has been one of the most critical points for Padua's traffic for years: businesses operating in this area face delays, logistical disruptions, and travel difficulties on a daily basis. This project finally represents a concrete and shared vision for overcoming these critical issues."

Roberta Tonellato, Accounting and Budget Manager at the Padua Chamber of Commerce, states: "This project stems from the ability of local governments, businesses, and trade associations to work together to address an urgent issue. The Upper Padua area is an economic fabric comprised of excellent manufacturing and artisanal businesses that export innovation, quality, and jobs. But competitiveness cannot rely solely on entrepreneurial skills: it requires adequate infrastructure that can keep pace with the needs of those who produce, invest, and travel. As the Chamber of Commerce, we support the appeal of Confartigianato Imprese Padova and local administrators, who are calling for immediate resources and a clear timeline."

" We need a concrete response to a problem that affects the quality of life of citizens, the mobility of workers, and the competitiveness of businesses. The new northern access to Padua is a crucial piece of infrastructure that can no longer be postponed," said Andrea Micalizzi, Deputy Mayor of Padua and Councilor for Public Works, speaking at the Confartigianato Imprese Padova press conference. He reiterated the urgent need for a road solution that would benefit not only the city, but the entire productive fabric of the Upper Padua area. The proposal, shared by the municipalities of Padua, Cadoneghe, and Vigodarzere, calls for a connection between the Cadoneghe Industrial Zone and the northern ring road, bypassing the streets of the affected municipalities, running alongside the railway, and crossing the Brenta River. This approximately 2.5 km project, with a route that avoids residential areas, would free up traffic on Via Pontevigodarzere, also improving traffic flow in neighboring municipalities. Micalizzi added: "I thank Confartigianato for its support of this important project. We must listen to businesses, who are calling for modern infrastructure to work better, but also to the mayors who, together, have developed a concrete and feasible proposal. To date, the Veneto Region has not yet implemented this project, but our duty, as citizens and businesses in the area, is to persist with determination. I will continue to do so, alongside the local communities and the business community, because this is a project that is truly needed.

Marco Schiesaro, Mayor of Cadoneghe, states: " This road network project represents a historic turning point for the northern part of Padua. As the Municipality of Cadoneghe, we are proud to have contributed to a shared journey between administrations that, for the first time, have joined forces to overcome years of fragmentation and inaction. The unity demonstrated today is concrete proof that only together can we address the infrastructure challenges facing our region."

Stefano Tonazzo, mayor of Limena, emphasizes: " My administration and I hope to bring all the relevant bodies together to find a concrete and effective solution to the traffic problem that has plagued the area north of Padua for years. We are convinced that only through institutional collaboration and a shared sense of responsibility can we achieve a truly beneficial result for our region. We are all called upon to do our part. In this regard, we expect the Region to take an active and decisive role, supporting a project that we believe is urgent and strategic, both for the quality of life of residents and for the competitiveness of businesses operating in this area."

Adolfo Zordan, mayor of Vigodarzere, concludes: " The Municipality of Vigodarzere is strangled by traffic exiting towards Padua, where services, employment opportunities, and education are concentrated. Our territory has the only two exits to the capital: the two "funnels" formed by the Castagnara junction and the Ponte della Libertà towards Limena. Every day, we experience difficulties related to traffic jams, most of which, however, consists of through traffic from the Alta Padovana area. The need to find a solution has led us to engage in dialogue with neighboring municipalities for years, and already in 2019, we finalized a joint proposal by signing a letter of intent with Padua and Cadoneghe—subsequently extended to Limena—for the sharing of an alternative road into the city." A road that connects to the northern ring road without passing through the Pontevigodarzere bridge could divert a significant portion of traffic, particularly from the northern areas toward Padua, thus reducing the traffic burden on the current routes and our urban areas. Given that the municipalities and the province are in agreement and the proposed project has been presented, it is now necessary to find the appropriate funding.