A1 Motorway Temporarily Closed Near Rome After Gas Tanker Incident
Rome, February 12 – A critical section of the A1 Milan-Naples motorway experienced a temporary closure yesterday afternoon, February 12, following an incident involving a gas tanker. The affected stretch was located between Orte and the junction with the Rome North branch, heading towards Rome. The incident led to significant traffic disruptions and the implementation of alternative routes for motorists.
Emergency Response and Initial Closures
The first reports indicated that the motorway was closed in the direction of Rome at the Fiano Romano, Ponzano, Magliano Sabina, and Orte toll booths. Conversely, the toll booths in the Florence direction at Ponzano, Magliano Sabina, and Orte remained open, allowing traffic to flow normally in that direction.
Autostrade per l’Italia, the managing company, provided real-time updates on the situation. By approximately 5:00 PM, a statement confirmed the closure between Orte and the Rome North branch junction, citing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered truck stopped at kilometer 529+500. This resulted in a 4-kilometer queue at the mandatory exit in Orte, while within the closed section towards Rome, traffic stretched for 6 kilometers between Ponzano Romano and the Rome North branch junction.
Recommended Alternative Routes
For long-distance travelers heading towards Rome, authorities advised taking the A11 Florence-Pisa North motorway, then continuing on the A12 Genoa-Rome until reaching the Grande Raccordo Anulare (GRA).
The incident also necessitated the closure of the A1 between the Rome North branch junction and Ponzano Romano, in the direction of Florence. This closure led to a 2-kilometer queue at the mandatory exit in Rome North. Drivers traveling towards Florence were recommended to use the A24 Rome-Teramo, followed by the A14 Bologna-Taranto.
Emergency personnel from Autostrade per l’Italia and rescue vehicles were promptly dispatched to the scene to manage the situation and assist affected motorists.
Partial Reopening and Lingering Delays
By approximately 7:00 PM, the section between Orte and the Rome North branch junction, heading towards Rome, was reopened to traffic. However, significant delays persisted, with an 11-kilometer queue reported between Attigliano and Orte in the Rome direction. The section of the A1 between the Rome North branch junction and Ponzano Romano, in the direction of Florence, remained closed for further operations.
Motorists planning long-distance journeys towards Florence were once again advised to consider the A24 Rome-Teramo and then the A14 Bologna-Taranto as alternative routes to avoid the continued closure and congestion.
The incident highlights the challenges posed by unexpected events on major transport arteries and the swift coordination required from emergency services and infrastructure operators to mitigate their impact on daily commuters and long-distance travelers.
