Genova, Webuild Wins Tender for the Under-Port Tunnel

 Webuild has been awarded the main contract for the construction of Genova under-port tunnel, a strategic infrastructure project set to transform the city’s urban mobility system and improve connections with the port area. The contract, worth €803 million, includes the excavation of the twin-bore tunnel linking San Benigno and the Foce district, representing the most significant component of the overall project.

The infrastructure will extend for a total length of 4.2 kilometers, including access ramps and junctions, while the underground section will run for approximately 3.4 kilometers through a twin-tube tunnel. The new route will pass beneath the historic port area, creating a direct connection between the western and eastern parts of the city and helping to improve traffic flow.

One of the most innovative aspects of the project is the use of a large tunnel boring machine (TBM) with an excavation diameter of approximately 16 meters, operating at depths exceeding 40 meters below ground level. The project is considered a highly complex engineering undertaking and is expected to become one of the most significant infrastructure construction sites currently underway in Italy.

According to the project schedule, construction is expected to take 75 months, just over six years. In addition to the tunnel itself, the project includes a series of complementary works and urban redevelopment initiatives aimed at integrating the new infrastructure into the existing urban fabric.

Among the initiatives linked to the project is the development of the new Lanterna Park, designed to return an area of great historical and symbolic value to the city, currently characterized by the presence of port infrastructure. Covering approximately six hectares around Genova iconic Lanterna lighthouse, the park aims to redefine the relationship between the city, the port, the sea, and the Lanterna, creating a new public space fully integrated with the surrounding urban environment.

The project includes pedestrian pathways, panoramic terraces, sports and leisure areas, and extensive green spaces inspired by Genova historic gardens. A landscaped walkway will connect Via Sampierdarena and Villa Pallavicino Gardino to a new entrance square, guiding visitors through clearings, shaded terraces, and natural areas before reaching the large open space at the foot of the Lanterna.

Particular attention has been given to environmental sustainability. The planned vegetation will help improve the local microclimate by reducing the urban heat island effect and providing shade during the warmer months. The new natural system will also be designed to enhance biodiversity and incorporate sustainable solutions for irrigation, drainage, and maintenance, transforming the park into a true green infrastructure asset for the city.

Once completed, the under-port tunnel will strengthen the strategic role of the Port of Genoa within the national and European transport network, enhancing its competitiveness and providing the city with a modern infrastructure capable of meeting future mobility and development needs. At the same time, the urban regeneration initiatives associated with the project, starting with Lanterna Park, represent an important opportunity to create new public spaces and enhance one of the most iconic landmarks of Genoese identity.

Edited by Rebeca Burgos