Land transport infrastructures servicing Ligury's ports: a potentiality analysis

Abstract

In this study, road, highway and railway infrastructures that are linked to the ports of Savona, Genoa and La Spezia are briefly presented. An estimate of the transport capacity of these infrastructures is developed, with the aim of comparing it with the forecasts of the increase of harbour traffic; this leads to assessing the residual potentiality in the period 2000-2010. Analysis results point out various critical situations, especially for what concerns road transport. Therefore, a gradual redistribution is proposed from road to rail mode that still offers a noticeable residual potentiality, despite of its extensive utilisation of some sections. Lastly, the role that a more strict integration of maritime ports, according to the harbour system concept, can have in enforcing the railway mode is mentioned.