A consortium led by The Webuild Group has secured a €1.6bn ($1.86bn) contract for the construction of the new high-speed/high-capacity railway line connecting Salerno and Reggio Calabria in Italy.
The focus of this contract is on the Paola-Cosenza section, which will cover approximately 22.2 km and will primarily be constructed underground.
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
Commissioned by RFI (FS Italiane Group), the project includes the development of the Santomarco Tunnel, which is a significant element of the railway line, extending over 15km.
This new tunnel is anticipated to enhance the capacity and efficiency of the railway link between the Tyrrhenian coast and the inland regions of Calabria.
The Santomarco Tunnel will be situated about 100 metres from the existing single-track tunnel, which will be decommissioned after the new construction is completed.
The project will employ four tunnel boring machines (TBMs) to excavate the double-tube, single-track tunnel.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataWebuild, which holds a 60% interest in the consortium, will work alongside Ghella, Pizzarotti, and SELI, a subsidiary that focuses on tunnelling.
The railway route will pass through the Province of Cosenza, including the municipalities of Montalto Uffugo, Paola, Rende, San Fili, San Lucido and San Vincenzo la Costa.
The plans include the construction of nine railway bridges and two viaducts, with one viaduct measuring 350m to cross the A2 motorway and another at 205m to span the Settimo stream.
A new station will also be built in Montalto Uffugo to serve the local area and the university campus in Rende.
Once completed, the project is expected to reduce travel times between Rome and Reggio Calabria.
Webuild said it is already involved in the construction of Lot 1A Battipaglia-Romagnano on the same railway line, which includes 35km of new line and a junction with the Potenza-Metaponto section.
Currently, Webuild is engaged in approximately 60km of the high-speed railway section between Salerno and Reggio Calabria.
With the recent contract for the Paola-Cosenza stretch, the company is now working on 19 projects in Southern Italy, including the islands, which aim to develop over 320km of high-speed and high-capacity railway lines.
As of now, Webuild employs 8,700 personnel, including direct and third-party workers, and collaborates with 7,600 supply chain companies since the start of these projects.
