Autostrada A20 (Italy)

Template: Infobox trunk road / Maintenance / IT-A

• Consorzio per le Autostrade Siciliane

Regions:

• Sicily

• In construction
• In planning

The Autostrada A20 (Italian for, A20 ') is an Italian highway in Sicily, which runs from Messina to Palermo. It is 181 km long and partial toll road. A section of about 20 km in length, which ran right past on the outskirts of Messina can be traveled for free.

The highway begins in Messina as a direct continuation of the A18 (Messina - Catania) and terminates short of Palermo in Buonfornello on a motorway junction with the A19 (Palermo - Catania).

Course

For Sicily, the highway is of fundamental importance as it connects the regional capital Palermo with Messina. The first section of motorway in the city of Messina, is toll-free until the junction Messina Boccetta. From here it goes to the west, along the Tyrrhenian coast of Sicily in the direction of Palermo. First crosses the valley Peloritans the motorway, following the A20 runs again from the junction Patti up to Rocca di Capri in the mountains. From then on, the landscape becomes increasingly flatter, and the highway traverses at sea level, the valley of Niceto and the wide plain of Milazzo. From the junction of S. Agata youngest section of the motorway starts and now leads through a series of long tunnels and over many Talübergänge through the mountains and slopes of the coastal mountains Nebrodi. In Buonfornello the A20 finally flows into the A19 Palermo - Catania.

History

Opening data

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For the island of Sicily, this highway has a very great importance, as they and thus connects the capital Palermo, Messina also with the Italian mainland. The A20 was first released on 21 December 2004 by the then Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi over its entire length for the traffic because of the construction of the track due to the rugged mountain country caused great difficulties to the north of the island. However, the distance could be traveled through only in the direction of Messina and was initially free of charge on the newly opened section due to the absence of toll booths. The final section between Tusa and Castelbuono in driving direction Palermo was released on 21 July 2005 for traffic. Only then was the A20 continuous open in both directions. A high number of bridges and tunnels ( a total of 52 pieces) are characteristic of the A20.

Special

During construction of the motorway, Villa Romana di Patti was discovered. About the archaeological site today by a bridge. The total construction time was 35 years: the first call of work was done in 1969. The costs amounted to € 800 million. In August 2006, the Mistretta prosecutor brought against eight employees responsible of ANAS, Consorzio per le auto trade siciliane, the operating company, and responsible for design and construction management company charged with dangerous driving, as they had agreed to the opening in December 2004 without the presence of the necessary technical requirements.