Sottopasso di Besso: Lugano station

Civil engineering

Work description

The Besso underpass is a complex construction site from both a logistical and planning perspective, for personnel as well as for the supply of materials. The site operates for most of the year in two shifts and, during certain periods, continuously 24/7.

To successfully carry out this project, we have undertaken a series of delicate operations over the months:

In August 2022, we assisted the specialized company during the first relocation of the historic building. We then constructed the Berlin walls, carried out excavation work, and completed all the reinforced concrete structures, enabling the building, at the end of August 2023, to be moved to its final location with a second shift of about 30 meters.

During the autumn, the entire shell structure beneath the railway bed of the new underpass was completed. As announced, between late December 2023 and early February 2024, we will remove the temporary bridges and pedestrian walkways in the track area, rebuild everything in accordance with the project, and restore full functionality of the tracks and platforms at Lugano station for users.

In 2024, we will focus our work mainly on the far end of the underpass, in the area of Via Maraini – Parco del Bertaccio and Via Basilea.

First, we will relocate the existing utility networks to allow, in spring 2024, for the construction of the Berlin walls, the foundations, and the installation of temporary bridges on Via Maraini, scheduled for 19 May 2024.

These bridges will be installed to ensure traffic flow on the cantonal road Via Maraini – one of the most important and busiest roads in the city of Lugano – for the entire duration of the excavation and reinforced concrete works for the final section of the Besso underpass.

Once the reinforced concrete works are completed, between 2024 and 2025, we will remove the temporary structures and restore the cantonal road to its final configuration.

In 2025, we will complete the interior finishes of the underpass before its opening to the public.

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Duration: 12.2023 - In corso

Amount: 24'000'000

Customer: Repubblica Cantone Ticino, FFS, Citta Lugano

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