The no-traffic sign arrived at 10:05 PM. Everything went as planned. State Road 131 DCN, the Nuoro-Olbia route, suddenly changed course last night. Anas workers hastily erected barriers, blocking the passage of cars and heavy vehicles on all four lanes to allow for road resurfacing. No way through. "The truckers were forced to enter Nuoro, after negotiating the curves that lead from the Marreri area to Solitudine," says Sandro Carboni, president of the Central Sardinia Consortium. "Once again, we're facing disruptions in making our deliveries. Who will reimburse us? In my opinion, the complete closure of the road could have been avoided."
Eight hours
A busy night, filled with alternative routes and headaches. Of course, ANAS chose the weekend and the darkness to minimize inconvenience to motorists. "It's a shame, as often happens, that no one thinks about truck drivers, who are perhaps forced to travel precisely at those times to deliver fruit, vegetables, and various groceries," continues Sandro Carboni. "In jargon, it's called the 'cold chain.' Well, these are all those products that must be delivered to the island's supermarkets, in the middle of the night, taking advantage of favorable temperatures. In fact, in the morning, they must be perfect on the shelves." The highway authority's memo immediately raised several concerns. Released Thursday, it left no room for interpretation: "The closure will be in effect between 10 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday, from approximately km 50 to km 61. Traffic will be diverted to the alternative route consisting of provincial road 45 and the Nuoro municipal road."
Surprise
"I didn't know about the closure, it was my fault," admits a driver arriving from Olbia, forced to reach Ottana after an unusual detour at Marreri, navigating a series of hairpin bends and crossing the Barbagia capital. "For cars, it's just extra kilometers; for those driving large trucks, things get more complicated," admits Gianni Pittorra, owner of a transport company.
More work
Viaducts are being discussed, but not only that. Construction sites just outside Nuoro are expanding. ANAS has announced "replacement and additions to the guardrails currently affecting the roadway towards Abbasanta." The €2.3 million project, from km 50 to km 35 of the 131 DCN, will be completed in January.
