With less than a year to go until the opening of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, concerns over the progress of roadworks in the Italian Alps have prompted the government to take urgent action. Last week, a delegation from Ance Belluno and Ance Veneto inspected work in key areas such as Tai, Valle, and San Vito di Cadore, expressing concern over the possibility of missing deadlines, especially at critical points like Longarone.

In response, the Council of Ministers of Italy approved an infrastructure decree aimed at accelerating the pending projects. The measure, driven by the Ministry of Transport, grants special powers to the director general of Simico—now appointed as extraordinary commissioner—to coordinate key works in the regions of Veneto and Lombardy. The action aims to ensure not only the logistical success of the event, but also long-term improvements in regional mobility beyond the Games.

Critical works, tight deadlines, and a historic investment

The technical visit to the areas of Tai and Valle left a mixed impression. Although work is progressing at a reasonable pace—with daily advances of five to six meters in the Tai tunnel and three meters in Valle—significant sections still remain unfinished. Local authorities consider these projects vital not only for access to Cortina d’Ampezzo during the Games, but also for the communities that rely on this infrastructure in the long term. However, the Longarone bypass has been identified as the most worrisome point due to stagnation and the lack of an updated schedule. The pressure is now on Simico to provide concrete answers in the coming days.

The new decree includes a total of 94 projects, of which 50 are related to transport and 44 to the sports sector, with an investment of €3.4 billion. Among the new works are a cable car system and a water intake from the Boite River in Cortina, an underground parking facility in Mottolino (Livigno), and a road junction in Castione Andevenno. These initiatives aim to ensure optimal conditions for competition and facilitate access to Olympic venues. Amid growing institutional and public pressure, Italian authorities are doubling down to turn commitments into reality and meet the demanding Milano Cortina 2026 deadlines.