A unique architectural work in the archaeological panorama of Sardinia, the Roman Bridge, the seven-arched, 135 meter long structure that straddles the Rio Mannu in Porto Torres will be the subject of a major renovation.

Thanks to ministerial funding of 4,050,000 euros, the consolidation and restoration works will begin shortly and will conclude in 2026. At the end of an in-depth phase of surveys on the shape, structural elements and construction materials, it has been drawn up the project aimed essentially at the structural consolidation of the abutments, piers and arches, at the conservation of the stone surfaces of both the bridge and the paving that emerged after the removal of the road surface and the creation of an elevated and illuminated pedestrian path along the entire length of the bridge able to make the bridge passable without affecting the Roman paving.

The history of the interventions carried out to date was presented by the architect official of the Regional Secretariat of the Ministry of Culture for Sardinia and sole architect responsible for the project, Patrizia Luciana Tomassetti, together with the archaeologist official of the Superintendence Gabriella Gasperetti. The restoration project, whose work is about to begin, was presented by the leader of the RTP, the architect Salvatore Tringali. Also present were the mayor of Porto Torres Massimo Mulas, the archaeologist official of the Superintendency Gianluigi Marras and the president of the city council Franco Satta.

The first project of the then Superintendency for Archaeological Heritage relating to the Roman Bridge dates back to 2008, but it is in 2018 that the Regional Secretariat of the Ministry of Culture for Sardinia, upon input from the current Superintendence, has the funds for the "Consolidation and restoration ” of the Roman bridge. With an open tender procedure, in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, it puts out a tender for the revision of the executive project and the direction of the works which will be won by an RTP formed by the architect SalvatoreTringali as group leader, Sintecna srl, Laboratorio Città e Territorio Srl, Franco Campus and Stefano Cadelano.

Once the executive project was approved, the procedure for awarding the works contract began in May 2023 and ended with the award, only a month later, to Franco Simonelli's company Archeo&restauri srl for the total amount of 2,039,957.19 euros. The current restoration and consolidation works are the result of a long study process aimed at the necessary knowledge of the monument, fundamental for the design. The objective is to ensure the protection and valorisation of the property, restoring its use to the public through the creation of a pedestrian path.

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