A bypass financed by Italy's
5-Star Movement (M5S) is set to open to traffic on Saturday to
provide a workaround after a viaduct collapsed on the A19 road
between Palermo and Catania in April, effectively splitting
Sicily in half.
The bypass is a 300-metre-long road that has been renovated
and made safe thanks to 300,000 euros of financing provided by
M5S regional deputies, who put aside part of their salaries.
A ceremony to mark the inauguration of the road took place
on Friday morning and it will be open for traffic from Saturday,
August 1.
"This road is a sign of the times- we wanted to show that
we are political force that wants to gain credibility among the
people," said Giancarlo Cancelleri from M5S at Friday's
inauguration ceremony.
A column supporting the highway gave way in April following
a landslide, cutting one of the island's main transport
connections. Repairs to the affected stretch are expected to
take months or years.
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