The Molentargius lookout post at Monte Urpinu: a 10-year hoax.

It's not a viaduct, nor a bridge with multiple spans. Nor is it a highway or an airport. It is—or should be—a "permanent lookout post" on the Monte Urpinu hill in Cagliari. A project costing just over half a million euros (some 514,000) that would allow for a marvelous view of the Molentargius pond, home to flamingos, from one of the city's most scenic spots. A pedestrian path, wooden walkways, a few binoculars, and a shelter: a project that's hardly "pharaonic," but, it seems, beautiful and useful. But it doesn't exist (yet): the first concrete act regarding it dates back to 2015 (ten years ago), but it's not finished. There's a fence (that's ugly, yes), a construction site sign saying everything should be ready by 2023. And now a subcontract arrives. It's part of a minimal story that seems representative of what doesn't work. Even in the little things.

Between May and June 2015, the Regional Council approved the "Regional Infrastructure Plan." On June 24, the Regional Department of Public Works "formally announced the awarding of €3 million in funding for the implementation of 'Interventions to enhance the Cagliari area's wetland system.'" These projects included the observation post above the reservoir atop Monte Urpinu hill.

The ball is in the court of the City Council, which approves the technical and economic feasibility study on December 15, 2016. On the 23rd , the decision is made to award the design to architect Mario Cubeddu. After the fast-track process, the process is postponed until January 2018: on the 19th, the decision-making conference blesses the project. The project arrives in April, and in November the Council expresses its opinion again, approving the financial framework: €470,000 in regional funding is discussed. Another pause, until November and December 2019, when the heads of the relevant offices approve "the definitive project and the executive project, respectively."

But the opinion of the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape is still missing: the green light with ministerial seal was only signed on December 9, 2020.

Are we getting started? No way. Almost another year passes (we're in the Covid era) , and on November 30th, the Public Works department expresses a favorable opinion "on increasing the overall cost of the project in question from €470,000 to €830,000. " A new council resolution is needed for approval: the executive committee at Palazzo Bacaredda approves it on December 3rd. On the 17th, the task of "updating the project documents (quantity estimate, analysis, and price list) – construction management – construction accounting – safety coordination" is assigned to the new parameters. Professionals Gabriele Antonino Coco, Fabrizio Napoleone, and Francesca Cogoni are working on it. Total sum: €41,516.37.

The "determination to contract for the awarding of the works" was announced on August 2nd . The contract was awarded quickly: in September, the winning company was Cagliari-based Vacomic, with a 10.87% reduction, for a total of €458,137 (excluding VAT) for the work, plus €30,985.05 (again excluding VAT) for safety costs.

Now it's done and we can really get started? Nope, again. The construction site was handed over on December 19th , but it was only "partial," and the contract was signed in March of the following year: 2023. The area was fully available to the company only the following October.

But not everything went smoothly in the meantime. An initial suspension of the project was decided in August, followed by two more: in January and October 2024. A "variant assessment" was needed. It happens when you plan on paper, then go to the field and run into unexpected problems. And it almost always happens, it seems.

The Municipality states that construction restarted on March 31st (2025), with a 60-day extension on the new agreed-upon deadline. The project must be completed by October 15th. The initial deadline? It was 180 days after the (first) delivery of the project.

Something seems to be moving: yesterday, the Municipality authorized the subcontract for "the supply and installation of the metal structures for the walkways." Who knows, maybe this is the right time: perhaps future news reports won't have to report another "what the heck."