Autostrada A15 (Italy) Explained

Country:ITA
Type:A
Route:15
Alternate Name:Autostrada della Cisa
Cisa motorway
Established:1975
Direction A:North
Terminus A:Parma
Junction: A1 in Parma
A12 in Aulla
Direction B:South
Terminus B:La Spezia
Length Km:108.5
Regions:Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Liguria
Map:Italia - mappa autostrada A15.svg
E-Road:E33
Previous Type:A
Previous Route:14
Next Type:A
Next Route:16

The Autostrada A15 or Autostrada della Cisa ("Cisa motorway") is an autostrada (Italian for "motorway") long in Italy located in the regions of Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany and Liguria connecting Parma and La Spezia through the valleys of the Taro and Magra rivers. It is a part of the E33 European route.

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.

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.

PARMA – LA SPEZIA
Autostrada della Cisa
Exit↓km↓↑km↑ProvinceEuropean route
Milano - Roma0.0108.5PR
Parma ovest5.2103.3PR
Rest area "Medesano"14.793.8PR
Fornovo di Taro22.785.8PR
Borgotaro42.166.4PR
Berceto51.057.5PR
Rest area "Tugo"54.354.2PR
Rest area "Montaio"65.3-- MS
Pontremoli74.633.9MS
Rest area "San Benedetto"79.828.7MS
Aulla91.417.1MS
Genova - Rosignano M.
100.77.8MS
Toll gate La Spezia101.76.8SP
Diramazione per Santo Stefano di Magra101.96.6SP
Vezzano Ligure103.25.3SP
Rest area "Melara"align="right"--2.0SP
Melara - Pianazze
Industrial area
align="right"--1.9SP
La Spezia Porto
Port of La Spezia
Raccordo per Lerici
107.60.9 SP
La Spezia Via Carducci
Town center
Boarding cruises
Ferries to Palmaria, Porto Venere, Cinque Terre, Italian Riviera and Versilia
Porto Venere
Cinque Terre National Park
108.50.0 SP

Santo Stefano di Magra connection

DIRAMAZIONE PER SANTO STEFANO DI MAGRA
Santo Stefano di Magra connection
Exit↓km↓↑km↑Province
Santo Stefano di Magra0.01.2SP
Industrial area0.21.0
Area Retroportuale
Port of La Spezia
0.50.7
Parma - La Spezia1.20.0

Lerici connection

RACCORDO PER LERICI
Lerici connection
Exit↓km↓↑km↑Province
Parma - La Spezia0.03.7SP
Porto Est
Port of La Spezia
Industrial area
0.63.1
di Lerici
Romito Magra
3.70.0

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.

See also

Other Italian roads

External links