'Pavia on the roads of Europe' conference: presentation of the University of Pavia study on the 'costs of inaction'

Vigevano, 17 April 2019 - "The infrastructural gap in our roads and bridges is the primary cause of the serious decline of our territory." So says Alberto Cazzani, Past President of Confindustria Pavia with responsibility for infrastructure, at the "Pavia on the roads of Europe" conference, held this morning at the Vigevano headquarters of Confindustria Pavia. "Not building a project costs more than building it, and not just 'economically', but also 'environmentally'. Today, thanks to the studies we commissioned from competent experts, we have understood the difference between building and not building our infrastructure."

During the conference, reports on the costs of building and not building infrastructure were presented, produced in collaboration with Stefano Denicolai, a lecturer at the University of Pavia, Cinzia Vischioni of Algebra Srl, and Giuseppe Magro, President of the International Association for Environmental Impact Italy. From an economic perspective, the investment required for the construction of the Vigevano-Malpensa motorway is approximately 419 million euros, while the total cost of inaction amounts to 162 million euros per year. Regarding the Becca bridge, construction costs are approximately 95 million euros against an annual cost of inaction exceeding 42 million euros.

The meeting highlighted how misguided the ideological prejudice is that investing in infrastructure means damaging the environment. From the calculation of the direct impacts of the construction of the Vigevano-Malpensa motorway on air quality, the Algebra report demonstrated how the 'action' scenario has a lower potential impact compared to the 'inaction' scenario, which presents a greater quantity of pollutants.

"There are those who oppose infrastructure because it pollutes," adds Cazzani. "We wanted to scientifically dismantle this approach. Once again, we offer the public debate data, analysis, and expert findings that allow, as Einaudi said, to know in order to deliberate."

"Being physically connected to Europe in a modern, rapid, and efficient way represents an essential element." Declares Marco Bonometti, President of Confindustria Lombardia. "The risk otherwise is the isolation and marginalisation of our country, and failing to attract human capital and investment. Undoubtedly, building infrastructure projects has a cost, but not building them, as has been demonstrated today, costs even more. Therefore: yes to the construction of major European corridors such as the Turin-Lyon, the Pedemontana Lombarda, and the Vigevano-Malpensa motorway."

Claudio Andrea Gemme, President of Anas, states that the group is committed to the progressive improvement of the road network. "Today, our proposal for the remodulation of the 2016-2020 Programme Contract focuses on network maintenance, the enhancement of new technologies applied to infrastructure, sustainability, and the relaunch of construction sites for 29.9 billion, of which 53% of the total is allocated to planned maintenance, upgrading, and safety improvements."

The issue of infrastructure projects is closely connected to the economic revival of the territory. Confindustria Pavia commissioned a study on competitiveness from the University of Pavia and the Romagnosi Foundation, which demonstrated the profound decline the territory is suffering, primarily due to the phenomenon of deindustrialisation.

"At our next public assembly, in light of the competitiveness report and based on the studies presented today, we will formulate the appropriate proposals to create a true strategic plan for the revival of this territory." Declares Nicola de Cardenas, President of Confindustria Pavia. "Without industry, there is no work, no prosperity, and no future. This province is in an extraordinary position, at the crossroads of two European corridors: Lisbon-Kiev and Genoa-Rotterdam. We are close to ports and airports, as well as the Metropolitan City of Milan: a great engine of international economic development. But it is no use being in an extraordinary position if there is no connecting infrastructure."

Attachments

• Infrastructure Project Report v3.pdf
• PPT_PAVIA_170419.pdf