Autostrada A6 (Italy)

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Autostrada A6 shield}}
Autostrada A6
La Verdemare
Route information
Part of E717
Maintained by ANAS
Length124.3 km (77.2 mi)
Existed1960–present
Major junctions
FromTurin
Major intersections A55 in Turin
A33 in Marene
A33 in Cuneo
A10 in Savona
ToSavona
Location
CountryItaly
RegionsPiedmont, Liguria
Highway system
← A 5→ A 7

The Autostrada A6 or La Verdemare is an autostrada (Italian for "motorway") 124.3 kilometres (77.2 mi) long in northern Italy opened in 1960 which connects Turin, the southernmost area of Piedmont, especially the Cuneo province, to the west coast of Liguria and the city of Savona. Its construction finished in 2001, when it was completely overhauled into a two-road motorway

History[edit]

Construction[edit]

The motorway was built in stages starting in 1956.[1] It began with the Savona – Ceva stretch being inaugurated on 27 January 1960. Work began shortly after in 1961 on the Ceva – Fossano stretch, including a connection to the city of Fossano and to the SS 28 for Turin. In May 1970, the Moncalieri – La Rotta section opened,[2] followed by the Marene – Fossano stretch in July of the same year.[3] Finally, in 1972, the initial Turin – Moncalieri – La Rotta section was built, with a separate roadway to Carmagnola.[4]

The Fiat track[edit]

In 1972, a second roadway was put into operation in direction to Savona. This roadway was located in the stretch between Carmagnola and the Rio Coloré West service area. This roadway was used exclusively by FIAT as a test track for higher speeds. The track began three kilometers (approximately 1.86 miles) from the Carmagnola junction, with the terminal square being just before the service area. There is also a square that was used as a technical track at overpass number 33, just 25.400 km in. Claudio Maglioli was known to have used the track to try to bring a Lancia LC2 to the record speed of 387 km/h in preparation for the Le Mans race.[5]

Dangers and safety concerns[edit]

The single roadway of the highway was considered very dangerous from marker 13 to 110 km, as the middle lane was used regularly for passing by both directions. Head-on collisions were common, with 91 incidents and three deaths in 1971 alone. For this, the highway was dubbed the "highway of death".[6][7][8] At one point in 1980, the number of fatal accidents was so high, judicial authorities ordered the closure of the highway in the Ceva – Altare section towards Savona. This was ordered on 17 July 1980; not long after, on 1 October that year, the highway was reopened.[9] The central passing lane was removed, and the speed limit was lowered to 70 km/h.

Doubling[edit]

In 1973, the doubling of Savona – Altare began, with the inauguration being in 1976.[10][11] Later on in 1989, plans to double the stretch from Priero to Altare began. Work began in December 1993 and ended in July 1995. Four exits ceased use: Moncalieri "La Rotta" at the 3 km marker, the Vicoforte sanctuary at 67 km, Montezemolo at 92 km, and Carcare.

Sections of the plain were affected by works starting from Carmagnola using the sediment from the FIAT track. This began in 1991 and ended in 2001, which was also the end of the entire doubling plan.[12]

The highway today[edit]

The bridge over the Stura river seen from Fossano

Since 2001, the A6, known as "La Verdemare", has safety regulations similar to main Italian roadways.[12] The system develops through landscapes and open territories, such as the border between Piedmont and Liguria, most notably the Savona – Altare Apennine stretch. The A6 also passes the Colle di Cadibona at 435m, a watershed between the Ligurian Apennines and the Po Valley in 14 km with an uninterrupted route of tunnels and viaducts and, exclusive to Italy, a helical curve in the south roadway.

The A6 is also connected to the new Autostrada A33 Asti – Cuneo. The Asti East tollgate of the A21 Torino – Piacenza – Brescia will take you through Alba to the tollgate of the A6.

The concessionary company is Autostrada dei Fiori, which is controlled by SIAS (Gavio group).[1]

The entire route coincides with the European road E717 and, at the junction for Fossano, branches off to a link that leads to the SS28.

Route[edit]

Autostrada A6 near Asti
Autostrada A6 near Cuneo
TURIN – SAVONA
La Verdemare
Exit ↓km↓[13] ↑km↑ Province European route
Tangenziale Sud di Torino
Torino – C.so Unità d'Italia
Turin Caselle Airport		 0.0 124.3 TO E717
Rest area "Rio dei Cocchi" 10.8 113.5
Toll gate Torino 13.0 111.3
Carmagnola
Poirino		 13.1 111.2
Rest area "Rio Coloré" 29.8 94.5
Marene
Asti
Cherasco		 34.6 89.7 CN
Rest area "Rio Ghidone" 47.8 76.5
Fossano 49.3 75.0
Cuneo 54.0 70.3
Carrù
Dogliani		 57.8 66.5
Rest area "Mondovì est"[14] -- 62.7
Mondovì 62.7 61.6
Rest area "Mondovì ovest"[15] 63.0 --
Niella Tanaro
Sanctuary of Vicoforte		 70.6 53.7
Ceva
del Colle di Nava – Imperia		 81.0 43.3
Rest area "Priero" 84.3 40.0
Millesimo 97.1 27.2 SV
Rest area "Cà Lidora Ovest"[16] 103.3 --
Rest area "Carcare Est"[17] -- 16.7
Altare – Carcare
Cairo Montenotte		 109.6 14.7
Genova – Ventimiglia 124.3 0.0

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "La Storia di Torino Savona SpA" (in Italian). Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Le autostrade del Piemonte verso il mare e le montagne" (in Italian). La Stampa. 28 May 1970. p. 11. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  3. ^ "E' costato oltre sei miliardi l'ultimo tronco dell'autostrada" (in Italian). La Stampa. 25 July 1970. p. 5. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Si aprirà a mezzanotte la sopraelevata che elimina la strettoia di Moncalieri" (in Italian). La Stampa. 26 July 1972. p. 4. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Intervista a Claudio Maglioli" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  6. ^ Torino-Savona, ultimi 4 km allo sprint entro ottobre pronto l'intero raddoppio - Repubblica.it» Ricerca
  7. ^ "Arrestato il conducente del Tir della strage per i 6 morti sull'autostrada Torino-Savona" (in Italian). La Stampa. 10 July 1980. p. 7. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Torino-Savona, 5000 incidenti e 250 morti" (in Italian). La Stampa. 29 August 1990. p. 6 (42). Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Riaperta ieri la Torino-Savona - 70 all'ora nel "tratto nero"" (in Italian). La Stampa. 2 October 1980. p. 9. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Si apre oggi fra Altare e Savona il raddoppio autostradale" (in Italian). La Stampa. 7 October 1976. p. 11. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Cara, affollata e pericolosa l'autostrada Torino-Savona" (in Italian). La Stampa. 14 August 1976. p. 5. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Concluso il raddoppio della Torino-Savona - Ora è la "Verdemare"" (in Italian). La Stampa. 13 November 2001. p. 25. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  13. ^ Mappa interattiva
  14. ^ Only in the direction of Turin
  15. ^ Only in the direction of Savona
  16. ^ Only in the direction of Savona
  17. ^ Only in the direction of Turin

See also[edit]

Other Italian roads[edit]

External links[edit]

Media related to Autostrada A6 (Italy) at Wikimedia Commons

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