The Orsara tunnel construction site, in the province of Foggia, is in full swing: while the Marina TBM has already passed the first kilometer of excavation in the even-numbered bore, the second mole, Lucia, is almost ready to go into action. After the final stages of assembly at the Bovino (FG) construction site, Lucia will finally be operational, marking another decisive step in the Naples-Bari High Speed/High Capacity project.

Her name was chosen by the pupils of the Monti Dauni Omnicomprensivo Institute of Bovino, in honor of Saint Lucia, the patron saint of sight.
Lucia, like Marina, is a state-of-the-art TBM, equipped with a 9.92-meter-diameter rotating head, driven by 11 powerful motors, over one hundred meters long. Its total power is equivalent to that of 1,500 passenger cars or 40 large excavators operating simultaneously. This advanced technology enables it to operate 24/7, continuously tackling the delicate sub-Apennine subsoil.

The 9,871-meter-long Orsara Tunnel crosses an area characterized by challenging geological conditions, including heterogeneous soils, presence of gas, and areas of high hydrostatic pressure. These peculiarities make it essential to use high-performance TBMs and innovative engineering solutions to ensure operator safety and excavation efficiency: the experience and technology deployed by Impresa Pizzarotti represent a fundamental added value to successfully meet these challenges.

Impresa Pizzarotti, a leading company in large infrastructures, is employing all its know-how in mechanized excavation, with 24 TBMs currently in operation, being assembled or ready to go throughout Italy. The choice of mechanized excavation for tunnel construction not only ensures rapid and safe progress, but also makes it possible to reduce environmental impact and optimize the management of excavated material.

The Naples-Bari HS/HC line will be a crucial infrastructure for the mobility of Southern Italy, destined to revolutionize rail links between the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic seas. Impresa Pizzarotti, with its established track record, continues to push the envelope, tackling some of Italy’s most ambitious engineering challenges. And meanwhile, Lucia is about to spring into action: another “mole” ready to overcome underground obstacles and contribute to the modernization of the national rail system.