Milan City Council Approves M5 Metro Extension to Monza
Milan, January 8, 2026 – The Milan City Council, led by Mayor Beppe Sala, has officially approved the guidelines for a new agreement with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and the Lombardy Region. This agreement is vital for the financing and construction of the M5 metro line extension to Monza, marking a significant advancement for the long-awaited project.
11 New Stations and Expanded Network
The extension will see the M5 line stretch from Bignami to Monza, incorporating the municipalities of Cinisello Balsamo and Sesto San Giovanni. The project includes approximately 13 km of new underground line, 11 new stations, and a new depot. Upon completion, the M5 line will span a total of 26 km and serve 30 stations.
The proposed new stations along the route include Testi-Gorky, Rondinella-Crocetta, Lincoln, Cinisello-Monza, Campania, Marsala, Monza FS, Trento e Trieste, Parco Villa Reale, Ospedale San Gerardo, and Polo Istituzionale.
Funding Challenges and Solutions
The project’s updated economic framework totals 1.884 billion euros. Currently, 1,298,496,373 euros have been secured, with contributions from state funds (933.496 million euros), the municipalities of Monza, Cinisello Balsamo, and Sesto San Giovanni (45 million euros), the City of Milan (37 million euros), and the Lombardy Region (283 million euros).
To cover the remaining 586 million euros in additional costs, mainly due to material price increases since 2020, the City of Milan, in agreement with all funding bodies, has requested the transfer of resources originally allocated for the M4 extension to Segrate (406,353,433 euros) and a portion of funds for the M1 Gallaratese depot expansion (70,140,193 euros). An additional 10 million euros were allocated by the Lombardy Region in November. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has committed to providing a further 100 million euros to ensure full financial coverage.
Next Steps: Tender Process and Construction
Once the full funding is officially secured, the tender process for the project’s realization can commence. This step is eagerly anticipated by Monza, particularly by the HQMonza association, which has actively campaigned for the metro’s arrival in the city. The mayor of Monza, Paolo Pilotto, emphasized that 2026 will be a crucial year, with the tender expected to be published in the early months, followed by awarding the contract and commencing work. The initial six months post-contract will be dedicated to site preparation before actual excavation begins. The completion of the work is expected in 2033.
Arianna Censi, Milan’s Mobility Councillor, stated, “The extension of the M5 represents one of the most significant interventions for strengthening public transport in the metropolitan area. It will help reduce vehicular traffic, improve environmental quality, and foster integration between Milan and the Brianza area.”
Source: [monzatoday.it](https://www.monzatoday.it/attualita/metropolitana-monza-approvazione-comune-milano-gennaio-2026.html), [comune.milano.it](https://www.comune.milano.it/w/mobilit%C3%A0.-m5-via-libera-alla-convenzione-e-all-aggiornamento-della-progettazione-definitiva), [milanotoday.it](https://www.milanotoday.it/politica/m5-fino-monza-progetto-fermate-aggiornamenti.html), [milano.corriere.it](https://milano.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/25_dicembre_06/milano-prolungamento-m5-fino-a-monza-via-libera-al-progetto-di-11-stazioni-a1ae1e7b-dba8-424e-88df-07714a06bxlk.shtml), [milano.repubblica.it](https://milano.repubblica.it/cronaca/2025/12/07/news/m5_prolungamento_monza_lavori_soldi-425026720/)
