VDP Srl

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The railway connection between Messina and Catania is part of the 10 TEN-T (Trans-European Transport Networks) Core Network Corridors, an important project of the European Union to develop a transport infrastructure connecting all EU Member States. In particular, this section of the corridor is located in the Sicilian territory, on the Messina - Catania - Palermo railway route. The project allows the upgrade of the connection with relevant transport hubs such as the ports of Catania, Augusta and Palermo and Palermo and Catania airports as well as improving the service in the main urban nodes of the island. Moreover, the intervention is also mentioned among the list of strategic works in Law No. 443/2001.

Previous projects focused on this railway section, in fact the preliminary project was submitted to a special EIA procedure, receiving a positive opinion in 2004 and subsequently obtaining the approval with CIPE Resolution no. 62 of May 27, 2005. This resolution defined some provisions which led to a series of Technical Meetings with the Municipal Administrations to discuss and review the work.
The work adjustments made to the project and the evolution of the reference regulatory framework caused RFI (Rete Ferroviaria Italiana) to submit the revised preliminary draft to a new EIA process.

The project is situated in the eastern part of the Sicilian territory, within the provinces of Messina and Catania. The preliminary design of the new railway infrastructure constitutes a variant to the historical line.
The existing line consists of a simple-track infrastructure characterized by a mostly open-air and largely coastal route, with few short tunnels and it is located in a very narrow strip of territory amongst hills that extend almost to the sea, the A18 motorway, the state road network and coastal tourist settlements.

The project involves the construction of a double-track railway with a length of 42.150 km that will replace the existing one.
The new line is connected to the old one just before Fiumefreddo station (km 247+819) and at km 319 + 724, in the proximity of Giampilieri station, the new line joins the historical railway. This new route includes mostly tunnels and it is built at a greater distance from the coast than the old infrastructure.

PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS

During the Screening phase, VDP analysed the potential impacts on Natura 2000 sites present in the project area within 5 km of the railway line and related construction locations, as defined by European Commission’s Habitat Directive (92/43/EEC). The Site of Community Importance (SCI) ”Fiume Alcantara – Alcantara River” falls within this range, therefore the Environmental Implication Assessment was prepared including the important Proper Evaluation Phase. The site is crossed by a railway viaduct and it is affected by the presence of nearby construction areas, whose effects were examined with a focus on habitats and species of Community interest.

For what regards the environmental investigations, the most relevant aspects were:

• Analysis of habitats of Community interest;
• Study of the local fauna and flora;
• Report concerning fauna and flora censuses;
• Environmental and Landscape Inclusion Design.