Autostrada A6 (Italy)

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Template other[[Category:Infobox road instances Template:Infobox road/meta/mask/category]]

The Autostrada A6 or La Verdemare ("Green sea motorway") is an autostrada (Italian for "motorway") long in Italy located in the regions of Piedmont and Liguria which connects Turin, the southernmost area of Piedmont, especially the province of Cuneo, to the west coast of Liguria and the city of Savona. It is opened in 1960, and its construction finished in 2001, when it was completely overhauled into a two-road motorway. It is a part of the E717 European route.

History

Construction

The motorway was built in stages starting in 1956. It began with the Savona – Ceva stretch being inaugurated on 27 January 1960. Work began shortly after in 1961 on the Ceva – Fossano stretch, including a connection to the city of Fossano and to the SS 28 for Turin. In May 1970, the Moncalieri – La Rotta section opened, followed by the Marene – Fossano stretch in July of the same year. Finally, in 1972, the initial Turin – Moncalieri – La Rotta section was built, with a separate roadway to Carmagnola.

The Fiat track

In 1972, a second roadway was put into operation in direction to Savona. This roadway was located in the stretch between Carmagnola and the Rio Coloré West service area. This roadway was used exclusively by FIAT as a test track for higher speeds. The track began three kilometers (approximately 1.86 miles) from the Carmagnola junction, with the terminal square being just before the service area. There is also a square that was used as a technical track at overpass number 33, just 25.400 km in. Claudio Maglioli was known to have used the track to try to bring a Lancia LC2 to the record speed of 387 km/h in preparation for the Le Mans race.

Dangers and safety concerns

The single roadway of the highway was considered very dangerous from marker 13 to 110 km, as the middle lane was used regularly for passing by both directions. Head-on collisions were common, with 91 incidents and three deaths in 1971 alone. For this, the highway was dubbed the "highway of death". At one point in 1980, the number of fatal accidents was so high, judicial authorities ordered the closure of the highway in the Ceva – Altare section towards Savona. This was ordered on 17 July 1980; not long after, on 1 October that year, the highway was reopened. The central passing lane was removed, and the speed limit was lowered to 70 km/h.

Doubling

In 1973, the doubling of Savona – Altare began, with the inauguration being in 1976. Later on in 1989, plans to double the stretch from Priero to Altare began. Work began in December 1993 and ended in July 1995. Four exits ceased use: Moncalieri "La Rotta" at the 3 km marker, the Vicoforte sanctuary at 67 km, Montezemolo at 92 km, and Carcare.

Sections of the plain were affected by works starting from Carmagnola using the sediment from the FIAT track. This began in 1991 and ended in 2001, which was also the end of the entire doubling plan.

The highway today

File:Ponte stura a6 da fossano.jpg

The bridge over the Stura river seen from Fossano

Since 2001, the A6, known as "La Verdemare", has safety regulations similar to main Italian roadways. The system develops through landscapes and open territories, such as the border between Piedmont and Liguria, most notably the Savona – Altare Apennine stretch. The A6 also passes the Colle di Cadibona at 435m, a watershed between the Ligurian Apennines and the Po Valley in 14 km with an uninterrupted route of tunnels and viaducts and, exclusive to Italy, a helical curve in the south roadway.

The A6 is also connected to the new Autostrada A33 Asti – Cuneo. The Asti East tollgate of the A21 Torino – Piacenza – Brescia will take you through Alba to the tollgate of the A6.

The concessionary company is Autostrada dei Fiori, which is controlled by SIAS (Gavio group).

The entire route coincides with the European road E717 and, at the junction for Fossano, branches off to a link that leads to the SS28.

Route

File:A6-E717 Asti.JPG

Autostrada A6 near Asti

File:A6-E717 Cuneo.JPG

Autostrada A6 near Cuneo

Template:Symbol TORINO – SAVONA La Verdemare
Exit	↓km↓	↑km↑	Province	European route
File:Italian traffic signs - autostrada.svg File:Italian traffic signs - strada europea 70.svg File:Autostrada A55 Italia.svg Tangenziale Sud di Torino File:Autostrada A55 Italia.svg Torino – C.so Unità d'Italia Template:Symbol Turin Caselle Airport			TO
File:AB-Tank.svgFile:AB-Rast.svg Rest area "Rio dei Cocchi"
File:Italian traffic signs - stazione.svg Toll gate Torino
File:AB-AS-grün.svg Carmagnola Poirino
File:AB-Tank.svgFile:AB-Rast.svg Rest area "Rio Coloré"
File:AB-Kreuz-grün.svg Marene File:Autostrada A33 Italia.svg Asti File:AB-AS-grün.svg Cherasco			CN
File:AB-Tank.svgFile:AB-Rast.svg Rest area "Rio Ghidone"
File:AB-Kreuz-grün.svg Fossano Template:Symbol Raccordo di Fossano
File:AB-Kreuz-grün.svg File:Autostrada A33 Italia.svg Cuneo
File:AB-AS-grün.svg Carrù Dogliani
File:AB-Tank.svgFile:AB-Rast.svg Rest area "Mondovì est"Template:Efn	--
File:AB-AS-grün.svg Mondovì
File:AB-Tank.svgFile:AB-Rast.svg Rest area "Mondovì ovest"Template:Efn		--
File:AB-AS-grün.svg Niella Tanaro File:Italian traffic signs - icona chiesa.svg Sanctuary of Vicoforte
File:AB-AS-grün.svg Ceva File:Strada Statale 28 Italia.svg del Colle di Nava – Imperia
File:AB-Tank.svgFile:AB-Rast.svg Rest area "Priero"
File:AB-AS-grün.svg Millesimo			SV
File:AB-Tank.svgFile:AB-Rast.svg Rest area "Cà Lidora Ovest"Template:Efn		--
File:AB-Tank.svgFile:AB-Rast.svg Rest area "Carcare Est"Template:Efn	--
File:AB-AS-grün.svg Altare – Carcare Cairo Montenotte
File:AB-Kreuz-grün.svg File:Italian traffic signs - strada europea 80.svg File:Autostrada A10 Italia.svg Genova – Ventimiglia

Fossano connection

File:Svincolo raccordo autostradale Fossano.jpg

Fossano connection

Template:Symbol RACCORDO FOSSANO - A6 Fossano connection
Exit	↓km↓	↑km↑	Province
Template:Symbol Template:Symbol Torino-Savona			CN
Template:Symbol Toll gate "Fossano"
File:AB-AZ-grün.svg Bene Vagienna
File:AB-AZ-grün.svg Trinità
Template:Symbol Fossano Template:Symbol Template:Symbol del Colle di Nava

See also

• Autostrade of Italy
• Roads in Italy
• Transport in Italy

Other Italian roads

• State highways (Italy)
• Regional road (Italy)
• Provincial road (Italy)
• Municipal road (Italy)