Via Epomeo could be transformed, at least for a few hours on weekends, into a traffic-free area. The proposal to pilot a pedestrian zone in the heart of Soccavo was discussed today by the Infrastructure, Public Works, and Mobility Commission of the City of Naples, chaired by Aniello Esposito.
The initiative, presented by Councilor Roberto Minopoli, stems from requests received from residents and business owners in the Municipality and aims to improve the area's livability while supporting local businesses.
The proposal calls for a traffic closure on Saturdays from 16 pm to 20 pm and on Sundays from 10 am to 14 pm. The project, according to the promoters, could represent the first step toward a broader transformation of the area.
Giovanni Adelfi, president of the Epomeo Natural Shopping Center, spoke during the meeting, recalling the association's work, founded in 1985. According to Adelfi, simple experimentation would not be enough to address the challenges facing the approximately 750 businesses in the area, which are struggling with competition from e-commerce and urban decay.
Hence the call for a structured intervention, called "Soccavo 2028," which also includes a permanent limited traffic zone (ZTL) to redesign mobility and restore greater focus to local commerce.
Councilor Antonio De Iesu, however, highlighted the operational difficulties. Via Epomeo is a long arterial road with numerous intersections, and closing the affected section would require alternative routes and a significant deployment of the Local Police. Initial estimates suggest that the required personnel could range between 20 and 30, unless technological control systems are used.
Further complicating matters is the ANM's dedicated lane, which would need to be redesigned as part of the new traffic organization. The section under consideration would run from the roundabout to Via Servio Tullio and would include three intersections.
The municipal offices also emphasized that a permanent ZTL could not be limited to a single road segment, but would have to be designed as a broader system, with the entire area identified, the installation of gates, and the revision of bus routes.
The debate thus highlighted the need to directly involve residents and the Municipality. Minopoli announced the presentation of a detailed project accompanied by a petition, while Commission President Esposito proposed a joint on-site inspection to assess the area's condition.
Before any decision is made, the proposal must be completed from a technical and traffic perspective and subsequently evaluated by the municipal offices and the competent department.
