The works designed by ENSER consist of the widening to the 4^th lane of the Highway A14 on a 26km stretch between Bologna (Ponte Rizzoli) and the junction towards Ravenna. The works are part of a wider investment programme with the aim of improving the dilution of traffic and the accessibility to the highway network, as stated in the Convention between Autostrade per l'Italia and Anas on October 12^th, 2007.

The design activity entrusted to ENSER included the following aspects:

• Highway route, included the 2 new junctions of Toscanella and Solarolo;
• Interference with 36 rivers/ditches, including culverts and bank protections;
• Additional works: retaining walls, noise barriers, civil works on the intersecting roads.

The design included the widening of the bridges on the rivers Sillaro, Sellustra, Santerno and Sanguinario. The bridge deck had been already widened to the 3^rd lane in the late ‘80s. The structural verifications highlighted the need to reinforce the existing beams. The reinforcements are designed with externally bonded plates or external pre-stressing tendons.