Strategic infrastructure project in Sicily to create 300 jobs, involve 70 suppliers

• Webuild to widen, upgrade approximately 18 kilometres of motorway

• Work to begin in the first semester of 2023

• Construction sites to be sustainable with innovative solutions to reduce CO2 emissions, maximise circular economy  

MILAN, January 30, 2023 – Webuild has won a €208-million contract to expand and upgrade an 18-kilometre section (Lot 1) of the Ragusa-Catania highway, increasing the Group’s contribution to infrastructure development in Sicily, Italy. Commissioned by Italian state road operator ANAS (Gruppo FS Italiane), the contract is expected to create up to 300 jobs, directly and indirect, with the involvement of approximately 70 businesses along the supply chain.

The section, known as Lot 1, is part of a broader project to modernise the highway between the two cities, also known as the “Ragusana”, a strategic corridor for eastern Sicily. It will reduce travel times, add services and improve safety along the route that passes through the provinces of Ragusa, Catania and Siracusa, whose economies stand to benefit.

The contract entails the widening and upgrading of the section along state highways SS 514 and SS 194 that cross the municipalities of Ragusa and Chiaramonte Gulfi in Ragusa province, from the access roads at SS 115 to SP 5 Licodia Eubea. It includes the construction of a viaduct more than 500 metres in length, six overpasses and three underpasses. With work to start in the first semester of the year, the highway will eventually expand from a two-lane route to a highway with two lanes in either direction with emergency lanes. 

Webuild is preparing the construction sites to be as sustainable as possible. It will apply innovative solutions to reduce CO2 emissions produced by the various activities, supply of electricity from renewable sources and implement a system to produce a circular economy.

The contract is Webuild’s latest contribution to the development of southern Italy. In Calabria, it is working on Mega Lot 3 of the Ionian Highway.

It is also responsible for the executive design and construction of parts of 4 different sections of the high-speed railway between Naples and Bari.

In Sicily, whilst also building two sections of a high-capacity railway between Palermo and Catania, Bicocca-Catenanuova and Nuova Enna-Dittanio sections, and other lots between Messina and Catania, Lot 1 Fiumefreddo-Taormina/Letojanni and Lot 2 Taormina-Giampilieri.