Let's get our teeth out right away: do you regret having opened so many construction sites together that "engulf" Cagliari?

«No, indeed. I'm proud. I managed to find the resources to grow the city, resources that otherwise would have ended up elsewhere. Money that became available to the administration in April 2021 with the obligation to spend it by December 2023. In less than 18 months, thanks to the overwork of the offices, we have contracted out more than 70 million euros to carry out the works that had been discussed for years in the city».

The most "demanding" (and criticized) works are those in via Roma: inaugurated in March, blocked for two months after the archaeological finds, and now finally restarted. Initially the reopening of the road was scheduled after the summer, but now?

«Our hope is to free via Roma from the construction site within the year. The company worked until August 11th and will resume after the 20th. And already in September it will begin work on the pavement of the first section, then it will continue on the other».

On vacation for just three days ("always with the phone on"), Paolo Truzzu carves out an hour to answer questions from the Unione Sarda. The changing city, the construction sites, the difficulties, the novelties of autumn. «The Pnrr has showered important resources that we are spending on schedule, opening all those construction sites that guarantee employment. With a very specific goal,” he says.

Which?

"To make Cagliari a more modern city on a human scale".

Mayor, in the meantime, however, with the construction site in via Roma you are able to make everyone "democratically" angry: residents, local merchants and motorists.

«The greatest inconveniences are linked to the closure of the road, and it is for this reason that we will do everything to reopen it as soon as possible. Having said that, I remember that the resources for via Roma had been available since 2019 but the project was missing. We took action immediately after our arrival at Palazzo Bacaredda, we held a design tender (won by the architect Stefano Boeri, ed ) and were only able to start the construction site in 2023 after all the preparatory and administrative procedures that a building public requires".

Once the work has started, don't you think that after the archaeological finds on via Roma there was a bad communication to the city on the developments of the construction site?

"No. The fact is that when finds are discovered, the times for the works inevitably lengthen. Construction sites always involve hardships and sacrifices that citizens and commercial activities bear. It's like when you renovate a house, there are often a thousand unexpected events and difficulties, I'm thinking of the materials that suddenly can't be found, just to give an example. But today's inconveniences will become an advantage for everyone when the work is finished".

Did you tell the residents and traders of viale Trieste? They complain there too.

«We had some delays due to the delivery of the materials, but now the works are proceeding quickly, so much so that after the summer the first redeveloped section will be reopened, the one between piazza del Carmine and via Caprera, then work will proceed on the second part. In general, I say that the administration is always available to dialogue with everyone and seek solutions to different needs wherever possible. But then it cannot be a single need that decides how and when to intervene».

Many also complain about the fact that construction sites are open in the summer, couldn't that have been avoided?

"Unfortunately not. Because we are talking about works that have an average time of 11, 12 months. Even if we had moved the departure, the summer would still have entered ».

Problems also on the construction site in via Dante.

«Here too delays due to the difficulty of finding a material, a problem fortunately now resolved. We will finish within the year, as well as in viale Buoncammino which will be completely redeveloped and illuminated in the autumn in the availability of Cagliari citizens ».

Then there are the construction sites that seem "damned". Viale Sant'Avendrace, Santa Caterina and cycle/pedestrian bridge: works started, suspended, restarted and then blocked again. What happens?

«Unfortunately, when you make contracts, you also have to be lucky enough to find quality companies. In viale Sant'Avendrace we came across a company with which we will terminate the contract and then start again with a new assignment. On the cycle/pedestrian bridge, where the contract had already been awarded, here too we terminated the contract because the company used a different steel from that envisaged in the specifications. For Santa Caterina we have added half a million euros to restart the construction site ».

Is it true that you will be inaugurating other construction sites in the autumn?

"Yes. In the meantime, the restyling works will start in piazza Matteotti which are part of the redevelopment project of via Roma, then there will be the intervention in piazza Arcipelaghi, where we should have started in July but we preferred to postpone so as not to hinder the summer season at the Poetto, therefore the one awaited for many years for the Pirri collectors which will improve the safety of citizens every time it rains, finally we will continue with the plan to redo public lighting: by October, half of the city will have a completely new system».

Some accuse her of continually opening construction sites just to campaign for next year's vote.

«I only have in mind the growth of the city, my concern is only to finish the works because if the works are finished it means having given a new face to the city. A mayor's job is this: to find the resources to improve the city. This I have done and this I will continue to do."

Mauro Madedu

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