Bari, Italy - The City of Bari is stepping up efforts to improve its infrastructure with significant investments aimed at enhancing road safety and accessibility across the city. Recently, the local government allocated €87,000 for the improvement of horizontal and vertical road signage across its five municipalities. This initiative seeks to make the streets safer and more accessible, particularly for individuals with disabilities.
According to Palazzo di Città, the work aims to address numerous requests from citizens for reserved parking for disabled individuals. The city is also finalizing a larger contract worth €1 million for the annual improvement, installation, and maintenance of road signage throughout the municipalities. These enhancements will focus on appropriate markings for accessibility, including clearly visible delineation for parking spaces and informative signs directing drivers and pedestrians.
Domenico Scaramuzzi, the city's Assessor for Land Care, stated, "L’investimento sulla segnaletica, in modo che sia ancora più chiara ed efficace, costituisce un impegno concreto per garantire la sicurezza stradale, perché aiuta a prevenire incidenti e garantire che tutti i cittadini possano circolare in modo agevole." His comments underline the importance of signage clarity and effectiveness as part of broader road safety measures.
Scaramuzzi elaborated on the urgency of this investment, noting the need to clear the waiting lists of citizens who have applied for reserved parking spots. "È in fase di aggiudicazione definitiva, però, l’accordo quadro annuale da un milione di euro sulla segnaletica, che ci permetterà di intervenire rapidamente tutte le volte che emergeranno criticità, di programmare operazioni diffuse su intere zone e migliorare l’accessibilità delle strade," he explained, emphasizing the dynamic approach the city intends to take to address issues as they arise.
These improvements come at a time when infrastructure throughout Bari is undergoing significant changes. Among the various projects, the city has scheduled water pipe replacement work on viale Gabriele D'Annunzio from February 3 to February 7, 2025. This work will cause temporary adjustments to public transportation routes, particularly affecting bus lines 16 and 33 of Amtab. For line 16, the route from the airport will be modified to navigate viale D’Annunzio before resuming regular service, whilst line 33 will also divert due to similar infrastructure work.
Such comprehensive urban improvements are particularly significant for key areas like Corso Cavour. Once seen as the heart of the city, Corso Cavour presents two contrasting faces: vibrant and youthful surroundings near the center with spots like McDonald’s and the iconic gelateria Gasperini, morphing to quieter, more retro sections closer to the old bridges. The city’s focus on revitalization efforts, including the enhancements to road signage, is part of broader ambitions to bridge this divide and provide cohesive urban cohesion.
City officials assure residents and businesses alike of the careful planning involved to minimize disruptions during these transitions. They view these upgrades not only as necessary improvements but as investments toward fostering community and ensuring every citizen can navigate their city with ease and safety.
Overall, the City of Bari is embracing this moment to not only modernize its roadways but also affirm its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all its residents through thoughtful and strategic urban planning.