[Timon91]

Yeah, the sun in your back is vital. That's also why the last pics of the A23 aren't very good, because the motorway heads more to the east just before it enters Austria.

 

[Verso]

Superb pics, Timon! A23 rocks, I'll drive there in a week. :banana:

41. Mount Peč, the tripoint of Italy, Austria and Slovenia.

That would be Monte Forno in Italian. I can't believe you actually went there.

As for that river (Tagliamento), it can be extremely wide, check in GE, you can't possibly miss it. How long were the roadworks, btw?

Signing a border from that far is useless... If it must be signed (not necessary in today's Schengen era), they should do it only from the last exit in Italy.

It originates from the pre-Schengen era. If I understand correctly, it's because Italy is quite big, so it isn't usual for someone from e.g. Rome to cross the border every day (except perhaps with the Vatican :lol. Italy's border is historically and geographically also very "closed" (Alps), although there are many motorways crossing the mountains today.

 

[Eddard Stark]

i don't know A25, but i know A24 and you are absolutely right about it! here are some of mine from the last year.

timon, great photos! somehow i feel that those from Italy are the best from whole your trip

I saw your roadtrip...absolutely gorgeous, great pictures! That's A24, A25 is the branch going to Pescara and - believe me - it's even better...tunnels, viaducts, stunning villages and castles and some very interesting points. In a place the highway is clinging to a mountain with a drop of 1K meters down below

Ok, next time I go I will take pictures, talking is not enough

 

[Eddard Stark]

Superb pics, Timon! A23 rocks, I'll drive there in a week. :banana:

That would be Monte Forno in Italian. I can't believe you actually went there.

As for that river (Tagliamento), it can be extremely wide, check in GE, you can't possibly miss it. How long were the roadworks, btw?

It originates from the pre-Schengen era. If I understand correctly, it's because Italy is quite big, so it isn't usual for someone from e.g. Rome to cross the border every day (except perhaps with the Vatican :lol. Italy's border is historically and geographically also very "closed" (Alps), although there are many motorways crossing the mountains today.

you are correct...we are a long country with a very clear border (the alps). We sign from afar borders also as we sign cities...

 

[Timon91]

Superb pics, Timon! A23 rocks, I'll drive there in a week. :banana:

Thanks

That would be Monte Forno in Italian. I can't believe you actually went there.

Why not? It's an easy walk up there from Rateče (only 700 meters up, not very steep - 2 hours walking). You can even get there by car, but you need a 4×4. I made border pictures, btw, so I will post them in due time

As for that river (Tagliamento), it can be extremely wide, check in GE, you can't possibly miss it.

And it all narrows down when just before it ends in the sea :nuts:

How long were the roadworks, btw?

I don't know exactly, but count on 20 kms. Including some tunnels (both directions in the same tube).

 

[x-type]

I saw your roadtrip...absolutely gorgeous, great pictures! That's A24, A25 is the branch going to Pescara and - believe me - it's even better...tunnels, viaducts, stunning villages and castles and some very interesting points. In a place the highway is clinging to a mountain with a drop of 1K meters down below

frankly, the only reason why i took A24 instead of A25 was tunnel Gran Sasso i hope i will have an opportunity to use A25 again

 

[Verso]

Why not? It's an easy walk up there from Rateče (only 700 meters up, not very steep - 2 hours walking).

I know, I was once there too; I also went from Rateče.

I don't know exactly, but count on 20 kms. Including some tunnels (both directions in the same tube).

F*, that spoils the feeling. Does anyone know when they will finish them?

 

[keber]

generally, i would say that italian motorways are in better condition than german

This is true only until end of A30 before Salerno.

 

[Timon91]

F*, that spoils the feeling. Does anyone know when they will finish them?

It's a lot, yes, but when you go on a quiet day there won't be jams. It seemed like they were working on some viaducts and tunnels (which basically make up the motorway )

 

[Verso]

Ok, I looked at cams, and there're just a few left.

 

[lucaf1]

A13 Padova-Bologna:

A4 (Passante di Mestre)

The beginning of Passante di Mestre (A4) (from Trieste):

A14 (and "Tangenziale di Bologna" on right) with third dinamic lane (http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terza_corsia_dinamica)

A27:

A57 (Tangenziale di Mestre) with third dinamic lane:

1971:

RA8 (Ferrara-Mar Adriatico):

Attention!

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raccordo_autostradale

All 17 R.A. (Ring motorway alias Raccordo autostradale) have been declassified (but not in the name), but the signage has not been changed in some of them.

Only Ra7 alias A53 is classified as a motorway, while the RA1 (Bologna ring road) only to an official source (the AISCAT: Association Italian motorway operator) is classified as a motorway (for the website) while on the site manager (Autostrade per l'Italia) is not reported even though the signs are green (usually for italian motorways). Signs has not been changed for the costs and for both rigid new standards for the installation of signs

 

[Coccodrillo]

"Raccordo autostradale" means "motorway connection" or "motorway branch".

 

[lucaf1]

Yes but that is a "nickname" because for the Highway Code (Codice della Strada) there are 4 types of roads: highways (autostrade), freeways (extraurbane principali), suburban (extraurbane secondarie) and urban (strada urbana). Other nicknames are: Beltway/tangenziale (assigned to highways, like the A57 and A51 but also given to suburban transport, as the ring of Novara aka NSA88 or to freeways as the ring of Brescia aka SS11) and "harness" and/or "branching" aka spur route (the highways A4/A26, A7/A26) called "bretelle or diramazioni"

 

[keber]

Finally some more useful posting from me:
A3 Calabrian autostrada in HD on southern slopes of Monte Pollino - descent of about 450 metres in just 7 minutes, over numerous viaducts, tunnels and bumpy pavement, but great views:

(for better viewing and more info go to Youtube page)

(hope bumping sound stays on Youtube - with my plentiful voice)

 

[ChrisZwolle]

Geez, those dilatation joints are a pain in the ass.

 

[keber]

Yap, it hears pretty bad in the video, but it's even more horrible when driving, especially with wheels striking potholes in those dark tunnels.

However almost all viaducts in Italy are built like this, but at least quality is much better on normal autostradas.

 

[pijanec]

Great video.

 

[Timon91]

Yeah, but those bumps hno:

 

[keber]

Some pictures of A3 around Monte Pollino from above video:
Towards Reggio Calabria, close to the top of a saddle:

Toward Salerno, surrounding scenery, mountains are over 2000 m high:

Climbing on that very long ascent at almost 40°C gives heavy load to your car machine. We almost got into red field, some cars (even new) were stranded on SOS nichés with opened motor covers.

Colloreto Monastery over A3 (before viaduct)

Valico di Campotenese, 1015 m above sea level (outside just 36°C)

 

[keber]

A3 Palmi - Villa San Giovanni
July 2009, valid also as construction update:

This is probably the most interesting part of A3, which drops from about 500 m above sea level to Reggio Calabria. It runs almost exclusively on massive bridges and in numerous tunnels. Reconstruction is ongoing already for several years, but sadly not much has changed in two years since my last visit. In my opinion it will take at least 4 more years for that section to be completed at current pace of work. New A3 will run more in tunnels and much less on viaducts than old one, which will be demolished.

Here you drive only on one half of the A3 for about 20 km, second half is used for constructiong new motorway. Because of pretty hefty incline and no possibilities for overtaking, large jams occur on daily or even hourly basis in both directions. At least you have the time to admire wonderful views.

"Maintenance" by ANAS, towards Reggio Calabria - southbound:

Reconstruction is very much needed (northbound):

Beginning of descent (further pictures taken southbound):

Series of tunnels:

Works on beginning of Sfalassà viaduct (893 m long and 210 m high) at Bagnara Calabra (only a hint of that viaduct can be seen through metal barriers):

Extremely large equipment is needed to work over 200 metres above valley, it seems, that new viaduct will be even few metres higher:

(this is the one from an old picture)

Messina channel on the right:

Massive viaducts:

Sicily in the distance:

Massive pillars of viaduct before Scilla:

Tunnels are almost unlit and also unsafe with no additional safety equipment:

200 m high pillar at Villa San Giovanni, used for electricity to Sicily before 1994 (those pictures are taken northbound):

Exit Scilla:

Galleries only on one side:

A truck broke down further north, that means long waiting times on 35°C. This happens almost on daily basis.