Institutional portal - Municipality of Milan

Councilor Censi: "Satisfied with a complex intervention that puts the safety of cyclists at the centre"

Milan, February 28 2023 – The design hypothesis of the cycle path that runs along Viale Monte Ceneri, called della Ghisolfa, which is part of the itinerary, was presented today to cycling associations and representatives of interested citizens, after an initial discussion with Municipalities 7 and 8. wider one that connects Piazzale Stuparich with Piazzale Maciachini.

The project carried out by the Mobility Sector had to overcome the strong critical issues due to the presence of trolleybuses with routes very close to the right side of the road, which made the hypothesis of a bike lane not practicable and did not guarantee the safety of cyclists, in particular height of the turn in via Delfico, towards piazzale Lugano.

In the project presented today, the cycle path - with a width of 1,5 meters - is protected by curbs along the entire route excluding intersections, and the works also include the closure of the via Delfico exit to cars, which will be transformed into a cycle-pedestrian path only, and a massive intervention to replace the entire overhead trolleybus line.

Precisely this constitutes the complexity of the project: the traction system is in fact made up of approximately 40 poles, which will have to be replaced by new ones with a particular design such as to allow the anchoring of a heavier and more protruding structure, capable of allowing the trolleybuses to take the road furthest to the left.

The other particularly delicate intersection is that of the intersection with via Mac Mahon, coming from piazzale Lugano towards Stuparich. In this case it was decided, to make the presence of male and female cyclists more visible, to create a so-called advanced line for stopping bicycles which exceeds that of cars by at least three meters and to position cat's eyes, an ideal tool for increasing the visibility, on the cycle path that crosses the intersection.

These measures will allow the safe passage of male and female cyclists and will also allow the presence of at least two car lanes along the entire route.

At the same time as the implementation of the technical-economic feasibility project, the Administration will evaluate the possibility, as requested by some citizens, of implementing in the meantime some signage interventions to encourage compliance with speed limits.

The project is very complex and the most impactful part, both in terms of the economic framework and the timing, is the replacement of the trolleybus overhead line which will account for 70% of the overall cost. The cost will be around one million euros, resources that will be obtained from national funds intended for the creation of cycle paths.

The times for its construction, including design, tender and works, are around two years, so it is estimated that it can be built by the summer of 2025.

"We have always supported the idea of ​​a cycle path along this route – commented the Mobility Councilor Arianna Censi – but we could not neglect the safety of cyclists. For this reason on the one hand the technicians worked on a project that took into account the requests of the citizens and on the other we looked for the funds to carry out such a complex intervention".