Improving accessibility with increased comfort and safety for drivers on trunk road 51 “di Alemagna” and trunk road 52 “Carnica”. These are the goals of the NARC Investment Plan for the Alpine World Ski Championships in Cortina in 2021.  The plan, unveiled today by the President of NARC, Gianni Vittorio Armani, in the presence of Minister for Sport Luca Lotti, the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Graziano Delrio, the President of the Cortina 2021 Foundation, Alessandro Benetton, the President of the INOC, Giovanni Malagò, the President of the IWSF, Flavio Roda, involves a total investment of 242 million euros and is entirely funded by the NARC - Mit 2016-2020 Programme Contract for 142 million euros and by the Stability Act 2017, which authorised a total expenditure of 100 million euros (20 million/year from 2017 to 2021).

“The actions we have decided upon, for which planning is ongoing,” said Armani, “constitute a series of measures aimed at increasing the usability of the roads leading to Cortina in view of the increase of traffic flow for the world ski championships. The works are aimed at raising the overall level of service of the national road network in the province of Belluno, with the ultimate goal of offering greater fluidity of traffic, as well as increased levels of safety and comfort for drivers”.  The complex process of drafting the plan, valued at €172 million for trunk road 51 “di Alemagna”, was accompanied by a continuous discussion with local authorities in the area to identify shared solutions, in order to increase the environmental sustainability of the road, aiming to promote the different built-up areas it crosses.

The solutions proposed will appear regularly along the stretch of road between Pian di Vedoia and the Cimabanche Pass, and aim to facilitate the creation of four branches going through the built-up areas (Tai di Cadore, Valle di Cadore, San Vito di Cadore and Zuell), worth about 30 million euros each, that will greatly improve traffic safety and the quality of the area. These will be local branches of the road in close proximity to the built-up areas that do not cut out the local attractions, but rather represent opportunities for promotion. In addition to the works planned for trunk road 51 “di Alemagna”, design possibilities are being evaluated by NARC, valued at 70 million euros, aimed at improving the technical functioning of trunk road 52 “Carnica”, which is an important part of the system of accessibility for Cortina d'Ampezzo.

“The Plan being presented”, said Minister Lotti, “is a fundamental part of the Cortina 2021 project, which aims to make it feasible and fully achievable to hold a very high-level championship in terms of safety and environmental protection. The alpine world ski championships can become a driving force for the economy and an engine of growth and promotion of the area”.

Minister Delrio stressed that the government wants to support the areas in question with dedicated resources and through NARC to ensure, “in constant dialogue with the local authorities, useful connections capable of handling a global event. Connections that will, of course, be an asset for all citizens and for the tourists that the area wishes to attract”.  “Cortina is an important event, and we must bear in mind that if Cortina wins, the Veneto and the country win too. To be perfectly honest, we would prefer to be further along with the works, as we have experienced some delays. I therefore have two appeals to make: one is not to waste time, the second is that only together can we win. We must work hard to make this a great event and have the courage to dream”, said Alessandro Benetton, President of the Cortina 2021 Foundation.

President Malagò, after having underlined the fundamental role of the Italian Winter Sports Federation in mountain sports, added: “The world ski championships in Cortina 2021 are an opportunity to give a boost to the sport and to these valleys". Legislative Decree 50/2017 of last 24 April also nominated, for the construction of the Road system enhancement plan in preparation for the Cortina 2021 World Ski Championships, a representative for the Government Commissioner, namely the President of NARC, Gianni Vittorio Armani.