With the arrival of the final week of July, the great summer exodus begins on Italian roads. Anas has prepared an extraordinary plan to manage the sharp increase in traffic volume, estimated at over 273 million journeys between 25 July and 31 August. More than 13 million vehicles are expected to be on the move during this first weekend alone. To ensure smoother and safer travel conditions, the road authority has suspended 1,348 roadworks—about 81 percent of the total—until 8 September. This operation adds to the already completed suspension of 98 non-removable construction sites since 1 July, freeing up approximately 680 kilometres of roadway.
As part of the summer plan, 2,500 staff are deployed across the road network, with Anas teams operating around the clock to monitor traffic conditions in real time and to respond promptly in the event of emergencies. In cooperation with the Ministry of Transport and law enforcement agencies, the company reaffirms its commitment to road user safety, including through awareness campaigns such as the advert “When you’re driving, everything else can wait”, which encourages correct and responsible behaviour.
The days surrounding the last weekend of July represent a key initial test for the national road network. According to forecasts by Viabilità Italia, very heavy traffic is expected on the afternoon of Friday 25 July, the morning of Saturday 26 and the afternoon of Sunday 27. The greatest pressure will be felt along southern routes, especially the Adriatic, Tyrrhenian and Ionian corridors, heading towards seaside destinations and tourist hotspots, but also at border crossings towards France, Slovenia and Croatia. Urban junctions will also be critical points, particularly during Sunday returns. The most problematic days of the entire summer, already marked with a black alert, will be Saturday 2 and Saturday 9 August in the morning hours.
The Italian road network will be put to the test especially along several well-known tourist routes. These include the Autostrada del Mediterraneo (A2), running through Campania, Basilicata and Calabria, the SS106 Jonica and SS18 Tirrena Inferiore in Calabria, the A19 Palermo-Catania and A29 Palermo-Mazara del Vallo motorways in Sicily, the SS131 Carlo Felice in Sardinia, and in Lazio, the SS148 Pontina and SS7 Appia, which link Rome to destinations in southern Lazio. In central and northern Italy, special attention is needed on the E45 route, which passes through Umbria, Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, as well as the SS1 Aurelia, SS16 Adriatica, SS36 del Lago di Como e dello Spluga, SS26 of the Aosta Valley, SS309 Romea and SS51 of Alemagna. Particular caution is also advised on the RA13 and RA14 link roads in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, which lead to border crossings.
To further ease traffic flow, a ban on industrial vehicle transit is in effect: on Friday 25 July from 4 pm to 10 pm, on Saturday 26 from 8 am to 4 pm, and on Sunday 27 from 7 am to 10 pm. Anas encourages travellers to check the official website before departure, particularly the “Summer Getaway” section, to review the updated list of active roadworks and obtain useful travel information.
