Inspection by Giani and Monni: «Tuscany looks far ahead»
[2 Novembre 2023]
«Another fundamental step forward towards the creation of the Figline lamination system, one of the main ones to defend the city of Florence from the risk of flooding». This is how the Tuscany Region defined the works for the construction of the supply work of the Pizziconi expansion tank (tested in December 2020) in the municipality of Figline and Incisa Valdarno and which were presented this morning during the inspection of the president Eugenio Giani and the the councilor for the environment and soil protection Monia Monni with the mayor Giulia Mugnai, which concern.
The works were delivered on 3 March 2021 and will be completed within the first quarter of 2024. The amount of the intervention is 11 million 650 thousand euros. The Pizziconi tank is an intervention foreseen by the excerpt plan relating to the reduction of the hydraulic risk of the Arno river basin (DPCM 5.11.1999) and by the Flood Risk Management Plan (DPCM 01/12/2022) for the reduction of the risk hydraulic along the Arno river. The managing entity is the Tuscany Region, through the Valdarno Civil Engineers.
The Figline rolling system is made up of various expansion tanks: in addition to ‘Pizziconi’, it also includes Restone, Prulli and Leccio (in the latter the preliminary project was approved for a total of over 132 million euros. All elements of a system of coordinated interventions aimed at mitigating the hydraulic risk along the Arno river. The system of tanks will have a capacity to contain approximately 25 million cubic meters of water, for an extreme and rare event such as the Arno flood which has a return time of 200 years.
Giani said that «It is a very important prevention work which reflects the strategic vision that Tuscany has in terms of defense against hydraulic risk. An impressive system that of Figline, which together with Bilancino and the other dams contributes to making Tuscany one of the regions of Italy that has done the most from this point of view with tangible results. After Lake Bilancino, this is the second major step for water containment, in a key which is that of flood prevention which we dramatically remember in these days. The ‘intake work’ of which we see the work in progress today – continued Giani – and which will be ready within the next seven months will allow the flood waters of the Arno to enter the expansion tank thanks to the crossing of the A1 Milan-Naples motorway and the railway viaduct of the high-speed line. Once the intervention is completed – added Giani – the Pizziconi tank will be able to store a volume of approximately 3.5 million cubic metres”.
For Monni it is «A fundamental work that is part of the Figline lamination system which serves for the safety of the Arno when it crosses Florence, protecting a large territory and, in particular, the capital. It is a very complex engineering work which involves ‘pushing’ 3 structures measuring 15 by 6 meters under the motorway, without ever interrupting the passage of cars. The works we see today serve to build what will be the ‘tap’ that will allow us to regulate the entry of the Arno water into the Pizziconi expansion tank, which has already been built.”
The regional councilor recalled «The complex rolling system of Figline which, in addition to the two lots of Pizziconi (the third already financed), includes the Prulli fund under tender and Restone already contracted. Complex, long-lasting works that will make our territory safer.”
The objective of the complex civil engineering project is, first of all, to reduce to a minimum if not cancel the closure periods of the motorway site, as it is directly affected by the construction of three undercrossing box structures for the connection of the Arno River with the areas of the expansion tank. Using the pipe jacking technique, three reinforced concrete monoliths of the dimensions that are being inserted inside the motorway platform were built on site using special hydraulic jacks. The entry of the Arno flood waters will be regulated by three metal gates which can be managed remotely through a remote control system.
Mayor Mugnai concluded: «The expansion tank system is the fundamental step for securing our territory from hydrogeological instability. The fact that in recent years the Region has accelerated the implementation process is certainly a positive sign, as are the large investments introduced both by the Region itself and by governments. Now it is necessary to complete this system in the shortest time possible, avoiding the continuation of the works as happened with the Matassino case, and also proceed quickly with the completion of the Restone case, where in the meantime the preparatory works have been completed, and those of Prulli and Leccio. Unfortunately, our territory has been marked by serious flood events in the past and there are vast areas waiting to be made safe in order to be able to relaunch from an urban planning point of view, environmental sustainability, but also economic growth and development. Precisely for this reason, the administration works constantly to guarantee continuous ordinary and extraordinary maintenance on the minor network of streams”.
The post first appeared on greenreport.it