Autostrada A15 (Italy)

The A15 is an Italian autostrada (motorway) connecting Parma and La Spezia through the valleys of the Taro and Magra Rivers. The road is also known as Autostrada della Cisa because it crosses the Northern Apennines at the Cisa pass. The main 101-km expanse of the motorway connects the A1 with the A12 (Genoa-Rosignano Marittimo), thus directly linking the Po Valley with the Italian Riviera and the Versilia region.

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Autostrada A15
Autostrada della Cisa
Toll road
Route information
Maintained by ANAS
Length110 km (68 mi)
Major junctions
FromParma
ToLa Spezia
Location
CountryItaly
RegionsEmilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Liguria
Highway system
  • Roads in Italy
Strada Europea E33.
Strada Europea E33.

The toll road is operated by the company Autocamionale della Cisa S.p.A. The franchisee's current toll charges are: car or motorcycle, €10.40; Overheight vehicle (>1.3m), €10.70; 3 Axles, €14.40; 4 Axles, €22.70; 5 or more Axles, €26.30.[1]

At the 9-km mark, drivers are welcomed by a curious monument, a tuft of steel and cement sculpted by Luigi Magnani and placed in the traffic island between the two carriageways. The monument is visible to motorists coming from the A1.

A view of the A15 at Montelungo

History

The first phase of this motorway, dating to the 1950s, was designed to provide an alternative route between the Po Valley and the coastal Tyrrhenian Sea. The construction required several viaducts and tunnels to attain the maximum altitude of 745 metres above sea level at the entrance of the tunnel crossing. Built as a dual carriageway (divided highway), it is very curvilinear and challenging to drive and, therefore, has long been used for testing new heavy duty vehicles.

Except for short stretches of the highway, the road surface is not porous or fitted with storm drains, making it difficult to negotiate during heavy rain.

Route

The motorway begins from the A1, near Parma. From the Parma Ovest (West Parma) exit the highway climbs through the Taro Valley with exits to Fornovo di Taro, Borgotaro and the village of Berceto, all within the Emilia-Romagna region. After traversing the tunnel, the highway continues into Tuscany, with exits to Pontremoli and Aulla. Shortly after entering Liguria it intersects the A12 at Santo Stefano di Magra, a few kilometres from La Spezia.

There are five service stations and rest areas along the way.

A15 PARMA - LA SPEZIA
Autostrada della Cisa
TypeHighway Sign↓km↓↑km↑ProvinceEuropean
route
Milano - Roma 0110PR
Parma ovest5105PR
Area servizio "Medesano"1595PR
Fornovo di Taro2387PR
Borgotaro4258PR
Berceto5149PR
Area servizio "Tugo"5446PR
Area servizio "Montaio"6545MS
Pontremoli7535MS
Area servizio "San Benedetto"8030MS
Aulla9119MS
Genova - Rosignano M. 1019MS
Barriera La Spezia1028SP
La Spezia - S. Stefano Magra1028SP
Vezzano Ligure1037SP
Area servizio "Melara"1055SP
Stagnoni1083SP
Lerici - Porto1100SP

Provincial Abbreviations: PR = Parma; MS = Massa-Carrera; SP = La Spezia

Proposed construction

A plan to extend the motorway route to the north through Fontevivo, Martignana di Po and Nogarole Rocca, linking to the A22 (the Autobrennero) around Verona, has been proposed. Land has been secured both for straightening the present route through the construction of new viaducts and tunnels and for the proposed extension. The town of Villafranca in Lunigiana and neighbouring municipalities have petitioned for opening such a new toll motorway. Negotiations have begun with private motorway companies and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.

Notes
  1. Autostrade per l'Italia S.p.A. Archived May 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
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