FLORENCE. Fi-Pi-Li, a major communication road Florence-Pisa-Livorno, one of the most important arteries in Tuscany traveled daily on average by 50 thousand vehicles – cars and trucks – among construction sites, accidents and traffic jams. An unsustainable situation that has lasted for decades (the work was carried out over thirty years ago in view of Italy 90), which today the regional council chaired by Eugenio Giani wants to remedy thanks to the in-house company “Toscana Strade”. This was reiterated on Friday, September 11 by the president together with the councilor for Infrastructure for mobility, logistics, road network and transport Filippo Boni.
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The starting point
To date, the management of the highway is fragmented among several entities: the Metropolitan City of Florence, on behalf of the Provinces of Pisa and Livorno, holds the technical-administrative competence; the Region, owner of the infrastructure, is responsible for investments. According to the council, a unified entity, responsible for maintenance and enhancement, would allow working structurally. Toscana Strade is therefore destined to work along two parallel tracks. Ordinary and extraordinary maintenance: rapid interventions including night work for emergencies, cleaning and structural restorations. And design and implementation of lane widenings, emergency lanes and, where possible, third lanes; in addition to managing advertising concessions and service areas. And it is not said that it will be limited to this: in the future it could take care of all regional roads: not only the Fi-Pi-Li and perhaps even the Autopalio.
Recent history
Toscana Strade was already discussed in 2023 when Cna and Confartigianato raised objections about the compatibility of the selective toll hypothesis for trucks with European competition rules, with a parade of about a hundred industrial vehicles organized by Fita. Then in 2024 the provincial council of Pisa (center-left) opposed the establishment of the company. In December, an ongoing study, conducted by the University of Pisa and the regional road sector crossing accident and traffic data of the Fi-Pi-Li identified intervention priorities. The actual process was launched this January based on an economic-financial, legal and technical analysis by Kpmg Advisory, temporarily setting aside the truck tax. In June it was “frozen”, in summer it passed the two positive opinions of the Court of Auditors and Antitrust – no objections – and a few days ago a resolution for the establishment that will now go to the council for examination, then proceed with the vote in the chamber: it should be approved by mid-October in order to be able to include the resources in the November budget forecast to start by next year.
Economy and finance
Toscana Strade is a 500 million project that will have an initial share capital of almost 3.6 million. The eleven speed cameras installed by the Provinces will contribute with 50% of the revenue from fines (Kpmg estimates over 9 million per year), from advertising billboards and concessions for new activities in service areas. For the service contract, an expenditure of 11.2 million is estimated for 2027 and 11.4 for 2028, to be covered by budget variations. Giani and Boni condition the activation of the toll system on a council decision that could come no earlier than 2028. The president also anticipates the intention to take advantage of the new national law that allows the installation of photovoltaic panels within 300 meters in areas adjacent to the motorway network.
The takeover from Avr
At the start, Toscana Strade will take over from Avr, a global service operator that performs ordinary and extraordinary maintenance of the Fi-Pi-Li. It will have a structure consisting of a sole administrator, appointed by Giani himself who will have the task of seeking European funds at subsidized debt and national funds (if any), and eleven employees destined to increase when procedures and processes are internalized.
The interventions
Priority is the widening of the section between Scandicci and Lastra a Signa for which design is underway, and attention also on the segment where the fork for Pisa and Livorno lies. For these first interventions, the Region will provide a significant share of resources “as proof of the seriousness of its commitment to strengthening the infrastructure.” At the same time, a third node to intervene on is emerging: that of Cisanello, where as a result of the progressive shift of hospital activities, a significant volume of traffic is concentrating especially during peak hours. The general perspective is to strengthen the major communication road by widening it to create, where possible, the third lane or adequate shoulders to ensure greater safety.
