Summer exodus begins: red-flagged weekend, heavy traffic on main routes

ROMA – The first weekend of heavy departures and red-flagged traffic on Italian roads. With the start of the summer exodus, Anas, a company of the FS Group, has implemented an extraordinary plan to manage the increased traffic flow: increased staffing, 24-hour surveillance, and a reduction in construction sites. Until September 8th, 1.348 construction sites will be suspended or removed, representing 81% of the 1.672 along the road and highway network.

According to the forecasts of the Road Mobility Observatory of Anas, between now and August 31st, over 273 million car trips are estimated, of which over 13 million this weekend alone.

"We are committed to ensuring smooth and safe traffic flow," stated Anas CEO Claudio Andrea Gemme, "thanks to our evacuation plan, which includes the deployment of 2.500 operational staff and continuous monitoring of the network to respond promptly in the event of critical issues."

The most critical days will be Saturday, August 2nd, and Saturday, August 9th, marked with a black dot, with very heavy traffic starting in the early hours of the morning. The most congested routes will be those heading south, toward the main holiday resorts, and exiting major urban centers.

Among the arteries most at risk of congestion:

the SS148 Pontina and the SS7 Appia, which connect Rome with the coast of lower Lazio;
the SS1 Aurelia, in particular in the sections of Lazio, Tuscany and Liguria;
the Adriatic, Tyrrhenian and Ionian ridges;
border crossings towards France, Slovenia and Croatia.
Tips for a safe trip: check your vehicle before departure, check weather and traffic conditions, carry essential supplies, obey road safety regulations, avoid drugs, alcohol, and distractions while driving, and take regular rest stops.

A. Pug

Longtime contributor to Cronache della Campania
Always a careful observer of society and events.
He covers crime news and has collaborated with various newsrooms.