Catania-Siracusa railway line: work continues on eliminating level crossings

On 16 April 2024, the railway underpass was inaugurated and the road was handed over to the municipality. On the occasion, a ceremony was held in the presence of the Mayor of the Municipality of Augusta, Mr. Giuseppe Di Mare, with the participation of the RFI Customer and Italferr personnel involved in the project. During the ceremony, it was emphasised how fundamental the synergy between the Customer, the Municipality of Augusta and the Contractor had proved to be in order to complete the work.

In detail, the replacement of the Brucoli level crossing, located at km 275+095, consists of a road crossing with a box structure that underpasses the railway line, with related reinforced concrete wing walls on the upstream side and outlet works on the downstream side consisting of a bulkhead of piles.

The intervention mainly consisted in the installation of a box structure inclined at an angle of approximately 45° with respect to the railway axis, built off-site and placed in its final position under the railway bed using temporary track support and subsequent jacking of the box artefact. The underpass connects to the existing road system via a ramp that runs in a trench for a total of approximately 400 m.

In order to allow the uninterrupted passage of trains throughout the works, the use of temporary track support systems, such as the Essen-type bridge, was planned. This system, once installed and put into operation, allowed the normal passage of trains during all phases, thereby minimising disruption to railway traffic.

The elimination of the Brucoli level crossing in the Municipality of Augusta on the Catania-Siracusa line is part of the level crossing elimination program that RFI Rete Ferroviaria Italiana is carrying out on the entire national territory, with priority for those on the main lines, in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 354 of 8 October 1998, "Three-year plan for the suppression of level crossings on State railway lines - Measures for the development of railway routes of particular importance", which provides for the removal of level crossings "through the construction of suitable replacement structures or road deviations, or the improvement of the operating conditions of level crossings that cannot be eliminated”.

The purpose of the works being tendered, with the related elimination of level crossings, is therefore to improve regularity in train traffic, to eliminate the related disruption to vehicular traffic flows and above all to improve railway and road safety.