Naples-Bari: important steps forward on the Naples-Cancello variant

As a project of strategic importance envisaged by the 'Sblocca Italia' decree-law, financed with NRRP funds and an integral part of the Scandinavian-Mediterranean Core Corridor No. 5 (Helsinki-La Valletta), the new Naples-Bari High Capacity line consists in the doubling, speeding up and, in part, modernizing of the existing rail link between the Tyrrhenian and the Adriatic ridges in the Campania and Apulia territory.

Advanced engineering skills were required precisely because of the characteristics of the area that currently shows some gaps, high route tortuosity and diffuse spatial disparities.

The first segment of the Naples-Bari route is the Naples-Cancello Variant, which, being a part of the new Naples Afragola station, completes the integration of the historic lines with the new high-speed system.

In order to advance the construction works on the Naples-Cancello section, under the Works Supervision of Italferr, the engineering company of the FS Group, a 72.5-m-long metal deck was built to cross the NSA 543 road of the Median Route under ANAS jurisdiction.

The metal deck - weighing 700 tons, measuring 72.5 meters in length, 13.70 meters in width and 5 meters in height - was assembled in areas outside the roadway, was transferred using special transport systems after stopping vehicular traffic.

A jack up system (special jacks) was used to lift the deck to an elevation of 8 meters above road level.

The viaduct was moved using two SPMTS haulers equipped with 144 wheels to enable it to be transferred safely.

Once the deck was placed between the piers, the lowering phase began until the height of the temporary supports was reached.

These are important steps forward in the realization of this project with a strong strategic impact on the territories involved.