Operational protocols

The operational procedures for managing traffic disruptions and emergency situations along the relevant motorway sections are defined in the company protocols and related procedures. Below is a list of the main protocols, updated to reflect any subsequent amendments or additions.

“Operational protocol for managing traffic issues on the Padua - Mestre - Portogruaro section”
The protocol, signed by the Prefectures of Venice, Treviso and Padua, by the Traffic Police Department of the Veneto Region, by Autostrade per l’Italia S.p.A., Autostrada Brescia–Verona–Vicenza–Padova S.p.A., Concessioni Autostradali Venete S.p.A. and Autovie Venete S.p.A., and already operational for the concessionaires involved, is aimed at optimising emergency response operations on the motorway network within the territory. It takes into account the experience gained in managing traffic flows following the changes in the road system brought about by the opening of the A4 motorway bypass (Passante di Mestre) and the construction of the connection between the A27 and A28 motorways.

In particular, the closure of motorway sections is envisaged in the event of a traffic blockage caused by the complete obstruction of an entire usable section of the carriageway, with an expected recovery time insufficient to restore at least one lane in the short term. The operational plans of the Protocol include the possibility of using alternative routes along the aforementioned motorway corridors, to which, in 2024, the new option of the Superstrada Pedemontana Veneta has been added.

“Operational protocol to address potential critical situations related to the construction of the third lane on the A4 Venice–Trieste motorway, Portogruaro – Palmanova section”
The works for the construction of the third lane on the A4 Venice–Trieste motorway result in the unavailability of the hard shoulder and the reduction of the width of both the running and overtaking lanes to 3.5 metres, with the constant presence of construction vehicles along the edges of the roadway. These conditions represent additional risk factors for traffic safety and make it more difficult to resolve critical situations in the event of incidents, even minor ones, with consequences on intervention and road-restoration times. It is therefore foreseeable that, when events occur that affect traffic conditions on the motorway, the main factor that may worsen the hazard and make rescue operations more difficult—exposing users to possible risks—is the stoppage and/or severe slowing of vehicle flow.

The protocol, signed by the Prefecture–UTG of Venice, the Traffic Police Department of the Veneto Region, the Provincial Fire Brigade Command of Venice, the Regional Emergency Medical Dispatch Centre 118 of Venice, the Technical Coordination of Veneto’s 118 service, and Autovie Venete S.p.A., establishes targeted and shared procedures enabling all entities responsible for traffic safety, infrastructure operation and user assistance to guarantee, through coordinated action, effective and timely interventions aimed at reducing inconvenience to users and preventing further incidents.

“Operational protocol for managing traffic disruptions on the A23 motorway, Gemona – A4/A23 interchange section”
The interchange between the A23 Palmanova–Tarvisio motorway and the A4 Trieste–Turin motorway represents an important junction within the motorway network. Very heavy traffic flows at certain times of the year result in significant queues both on the southbound A23 and on the westbound A4. Similar issues arise when accidents occur on the westbound carriageway of the A4 along the A23/A4 interchange – San Giorgio di Nogaro section.

To address these foreseeable emergencies and mitigate the effects of such disruptions, it was deemed necessary to define an operational coordination procedure among the entities involved in managing motorway emergencies in the affected area. With a view to improving user service by reducing inconvenience caused by motorway emergencies, the protocol—signed by the Prefecture of Udine, the Traffic Police Department of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Autostrade per l’Italia S.p.A. – 9th Branch, and Autovie Venete S.p.A.—sets out a series of instructions and actions aimed at planning and coordinating the optimal management of traffic flows, based both on the type of event and on the specific road, traffic and environmental conditions.

The protocol provides for the gradual implementation of mandatory exits on the A23 motorway in the direction of the A23/A4 interchange, based on the following conditions and phases:
Phase 1: A 5 km queue on the Udine Sud – A4/A23 Interchange section towards the A4/A23 Interchange. Activation of the mandatory exit at Udine Sud. Closure of the Udine Sud entry lane in the direction of the A23/A4 connection. Recommended exit information provided at the Udine Nord toll station, with activation of alternative routes.
Phase 2: A 5 km queue at the mandatory exit at the Udine Sud toll station. Activation of the mandatory exit at the Udine Nord toll station. Closure of the Udine Nord entry lane in the direction of the A23/A4 connection. Recommended exit information provided at the Gemona-Osoppo toll station, with activation of alternative routes.
Phase 3: A 5 km queue at the mandatory exit at the Udine Nord toll station. Activation of the mandatory exit at the Gemona-Osoppo toll station. Closure of the Gemona/Osoppo entry lane in the direction of the A23/A4 connection.

“Operational protocol to address potential critical situations related to the construction of noise barriers on the A4 Venice–Trieste motorway (Monfalcone – Sistiana section) and the upgrading of the Trieste–Lisert toll barrier”
The upgrading works at the “Trieste–Lisert” toll barrier will involve the constant presence of construction vehicles along the edges of the roadway. This condition represents an additional risk factor for traffic safety and makes it more difficult to resolve critical situations in the event of incidents, even minor ones, with consequences on intervention and road-restoration times. It is therefore foreseeable that, when events occur that affect traffic conditions on the motorway, the main factor that may worsen the hazard and make rescue operations more difficult—exposing users to possible risks—is the stoppage and/or severe slowing of vehicle flow.

The protocol, issued by the Prefecture–UTG of Trieste, establishes targeted and shared procedures enabling all entities responsible for traffic safety, infrastructure operation and user assistance to guarantee, through coordinated action, effective and timely interventions aimed at reducing inconvenience for users and preventing further incidents.

“Guidelines and Operational Plans of the Traffic Emergency Plan” pursuant to Decree No. 2 of 6 October 2008 issued by the Delegated Commissioner concerning the A4 "The Guidelines and Operational Plans of the Traffic Emergency Plan, established by Decree No. 2 of 6 October 2008 issued by the Delegated Commissioner concerning the A4 Motorway (Venice–Trieste section) and the Villesse–Gorizia Link Road, and approved by the Delegated Commissioner for the mobility emergency relating to the A4 (Venice–Trieste section) and the Villesse–Gorizia Link Road, by the Prefectures of Trieste, Gorizia, Pordenone and Udine, and by the Traffic Police Department of Friuli Venezia Giulia, serve as the methodological reference for addressing emergencies arising from critical situations linked to the volume of traffic flows and the presence of worksites for the construction of new road and motorway infrastructure.

For the management of such potential critical situations, the choice of alternative routes to the motorway network has been agreed upon with the signatory parties. The Guidelines set out the general criteria for the preparation of detailed planning at the “provincial level”."
The purpose of the document is to codify, as far as possible, the emergency procedures to be followed in the event of major events or critical situations, and to provide an organisational framework for identifying the various responsibilities at each stage of the emergency, in order to ensure a prompt and adequate response capable of addressing crisis situations.

“Traffic Emergency Operational Plan pursuant to Decree No. 2 of 6 October 2008 issued by the Delegated Commissioner – for the Province of Pordenone – concerning the A4 Motorway (Venice–Trieste section) and the Villesse–Gorizia Link Road in situations of major events or critical conditions”
In the territory of the Province of Pordenone, although not directly crossed by the A4 motorway axis, detailed planning has nonetheless been prepared in implementation of the aforementioned “Guidelines”, in order to manage any crisis situations that may occur on the A28 motorway axis as a result of heavy traffic flows, including heavy vehicles, being diverted from the A4 due to the construction works mentioned above and the presence of related worksites.

The implementation of mandatory exits along the affected motorway section is assessed, based on the identified needs and in agreement with the Concessionaire, by the Road Traffic Operations Committee (Comitato Operativo Viabilità).

 “Alternative routes to be used in case of total closure of the A4 Venice–Portogruaro section”
The protocol, established between the Provincial Department for Road Traffic and Road Safety of the Province of Venice; the Municipalities of Caorle, Eraclea, Fossalta di Piave, Jesolo, Marcon, Meolo, Musile di Piave, Noventa di Piave, Portogruaro, Quarto d’Altino, San Donà di Piave and Santo Stino di Livenza; the Traffic Police Department of Veneto; the Provincial Commands of the Carabinieri and the Fire Brigade; the Venice Traffic Police Section; Autovie Venete S.p.A.; Società Autostrade di Venezia e Padova S.p.A.; and Autostrade per l’Italia S.p.A., identifies the alternative routes to be used in the event of a complete blockage of the A4 motorway on the Venice – Portogruaro section.

Specifically, for each direction of travel, the routes to be used in the event of mandatory exits imposed at the Marco Polo Interchange, the Quarto d’Altino junction, the San Donà di Piave toll station, the Santo Stino di Livenza toll station and the Portogruaro junction have been identified. These routes have been defined with the aim of minimising inconvenience on the ordinary road network and within the affected urban areas.

“Summer Holiday Traffic Operational Plan for the Province of Gorizia”
The planning, prepared in implementation of the ministerial directives set out in the circular of the Ministry of the Interior on the same subject, and issued by the Prefecture–UTG of Gorizia, provides guidelines for coordinated — including preventive — action in matters of road traffic management in the event of circulation disruptions affecting the Province of Gorizia directly, or concerning neighbouring Slovenia or the nearby provinces of Trieste and Udine, linked to increased holiday traffic during the summer months of June, July and August. The measures provided for in the plan aim primarily to ensure traffic flow on the A4 Venice–Trieste motorway within the section falling under the Province of Gorizia, and along the entire A34 Villesse–Gorizia motorway.

The mandatory route on the A34 is activated when very heavy traffic conditions occur, with queues exceeding 6 km on the Redipuglia – Trieste Lisert Toll Barrier section, and traffic volumes on the A4 in the Palmanova – Redipuglia section towards Trieste exceeding the absorption capacity of the aforementioned barrier.

“Memorandum of Understanding for the management of messages and signals displayed on the MARCO-T3 variable message signs located along the motorway sections under the responsibility of Autovie Venete”
The protocol, signed by Autovie Venete S.p.A. and Società delle Autostrade di Venezia e di Padova S.p.A., defines the operational procedures for managing the variable message signs which, integrated into the traffic-management system known as T3 of Società delle Autostrade di Venezia e di Padova S.p.A., are installed along motorway sections under the concession of Autovie Venete S.p.A. .

The T3 system represents an emergency solution capable of making an important contribution to traffic flow on the Mestre Bypass: when traffic conditions require the use of the hard shoulder as a running lane, the flow of the two lanes is redistributed over three lanes.

“Memorandum of Understanding for Managing Access to the Passante di Mestre in Case of Accidents”
The protocol, drafted on the basis of the technical proposals and observations submitted by the representatives of the competent authorities (Prefectures of Venice and Treviso, Delegated Commissioner for the Emergency, Traffic Police Department of Veneto, Traffic Police of Venice and Treviso, SUEM 118 of Venice and Treviso, ASL Mirano, Provincial Fire Brigade Commands of Venice and Treviso, Autovie Venete S.p.A., and Società delle Autostrade di Venezia e Padova S.p.A.), defines the access routes to the Mestre Bypass required to ensure technical and medical emergency response operations within the road network.

Specifically, the following access points are defined—complementing the ones normally available for traffic—and are to be used exclusively in emergency situations: movable barriers on the central reservation (for wrong-way access), the Dolo Interchange, the L-connection junction, Campocroce, and Preganziol (under the responsibility of Società delle Autostrade di Venezia e Padova); and Quarto d’Altino (under the responsibility of Autovie Venete).

“Traffic Management Plan for the Brenner and Tauri/Tarvisio Corridors”
The plan concerns the Munich–Verona route (primary corridor) and the Tauri–Tarvisio route (secondary corridor), covering 3 countries (Germany, Austria, Italy) and 7 motorway operators (Verkehrsmeldestelle Bayern, ASFINAG, Autostrada del Brennero S.p.A., Autostrade per l’Italia, Autostrada Brescia–Padova S.p.A., Società delle Autostrade di Venezia e di Padova S.p.A., and Autovie Venete S.p.A.).

In the event of an interruption along the primary Munich–Verona corridor (affected motorways with a total length of 360 km: A93 in Bavaria, A13/A12 in Austria and A22 in Italy), traffic is diverted to the secondary Tauri–Tarvisio corridor (affected motorways with a total length of 605 km: A8 in Bavaria, A1/A10/A2 in Austria, A23/A4 in Italy).

“Memorandum of Understanding for the coordinated management of information on events affecting traffic on motorway sections managed by Anas Trieste, Autostrada Brescia–Verona–Vicenza–Padova S.p.A., Autostrada del Brennero S.p.A., Autostrade Centro Padane S.p.A., Autostrade per l’Italia S.p.A. (2nd, 3rd and 9th branches), Autovie Venete S.p.A. and Concessioni Autostradali Venete S.p.A.”
The document sets out the operational procedures aimed at harmonising user information through the sharing, among different companies, of management processes designed to promote coordinated communication. The companies involved in the coordinated management of information include both those operating motorway sections directly connected to one another and, more generally, those affected by events whose management requires wide-ranging communication coordination.

The events considered within the scope of the coordinated information management include, by way of example but not limited to: motorway section closures; closures of motorway interchange junctions; closures of motorway intersections; traffic blockages; weather events (snow, ice, wind); and major events of primary relevance to motorway traffic.

“Agreement for the Exchange of Traffic Information with Autostrade per l’Italia”
The Agreement governs the terms and methods of mutual cooperation for the purpose of disseminating motorway traffic and road-network information through the parties’ respective radio and television media, as well as through any other media not expressly covered by the Agreement.

“Memorandum of Understanding – Cooperation for Traffic Management and Information Exchange”
The Memorandum, signed by representatives of Autovie Venete S.p.A., ANAS (Road Directorate for Friuli Venezia Giulia), and the Slovenian, Croatian, Austrian and Hungarian motorway operators, outlines a communication and information-flow system that includes data on severe weather events and any traffic blockages along international corridors caused by ongoing emergency situations. All information regarding traffic conditions and severe weather conditions is therefore also disseminated through the variable message signs of other operators further along the network, including motorway sections in Slovenia, Austria, Croatia and Hungary connected to the national concession network, using pre-agreed messages shared among the aforementioned operators.

“Framework Agreement between Autovie Venete S.p.A. and Friuli Venezia Giulia Strade S.p.A.”
The Framework Agreement aims to identify the activities and areas to be shared between Autovie Venete S.p.A. and Friuli Venezia Giulia S.p.A., thereby creating effective synergies to achieve operational effectiveness, efficiency and cost-effectiveness for both parties, while improving the performance of their respective organisational structures and optimising the service provided to end users. Among the identified areas of cooperation are road management and traffic, as well as exceptional transport operations.

“Protocol for the sharing of operational procedures for the safe implementation of ‘dynamic traffic slowing’ using a safety car”
In the activity referred to as “dynamic traffic slowing”, the term “safety car” identifies the service vehicle—belonging either to the Police Forces or made available by the Concessionaire—which intervenes on the road network in emergency situations for traffic-control and safety purposes. The vehicle accompanies and slows down the approaching traffic flow, reducing speed from its initial value to that required by the conditions at the scene (such as a road accident, a broken-down vehicle, or adverse weather or environmental events), thereby facilitating the compacting of vehicles up to a temporary traffic stop, where necessary.

Dynamic traffic slowing may be used to channel traffic through a reduced carriageway width, to establish a mandatory exit in the event of a serious accident, emergency situations or planned works, and to manage the subsequent restoration of normal traffic conditions.

“Operational protocol for civil protection emergency activities on motorways and bypasses in the Veneto Region”
The Protocol, established between the Veneto Region, the Prefectures of the Veneto Region, the Traffic Police Department of Veneto, Concessioni Autostradali Venete S.p.A., Autostrade per l’Italia S.p.A., Autovie Venete S.p.A., Autostrada Brescia–Verona–Vicenza–Padova S.p.A., and Autostrada del Brennero S.p.A., sets out the operational procedures for cooperation among the parties in order to ensure, during emergency situations or in the event of heavy traffic and risk of congestion, assistance and support to travellers through the activation of the Civil Protection System and, where necessary, Civil Protection volunteer organisations.

“Radio Information Centre Manual” (Internal manual adopted by the Company)
The Radio Information Centre manual describes, in addition to the other activities carried out by its Operators, the actions to be taken in order to respond to events that disrupt normal traffic safety and flow conditions, such as road accidents, traffic disturbances, hazardous situations, or adverse weather conditions.

In particular, the closure of a motorway section is implemented following instructions from the Traffic Police, either as a consequence of a traffic event (traffic at a standstill) or due to a hazardous situation (landslide, flooding, etc.). In some cases, it may be necessary to restrict traffic for specific categories of vehicles—for example, curtain-siders and vans—due to strong wind conditions.

“Road Assistance Officer Manual for Motorways” (Internal manual adopted by the Company)
The “Motorway Traffic Assistant Manual” describes, in addition to the other activities carried out by Traffic Assistants, the procedures for providing appropriate assistance to users in the event of emergencies or potentially hazardous situations.

“Emergency Plan for Managing Hydrogeological Risk” (Internal plan adopted by the Company)
The emergency plan for managing hydrogeological risk defines the criteria and procedures for handling alert, pre-alert, alarm and emergency situations related to hydrogeological risk affecting the motorway infrastructure. The purpose of this management framework is to ensure, at all times, acceptable conditions for the viability of the managed motorway network when impacted by hydrogeological events of an intensity capable of potentially compromising the infrastructure, while maintaining the required safety standards for both users and operators.

In application of the above-mentioned Plan, the closure of a motorway section may occur in the presence of the following scenarios: flooding of the motorway carriageway resulting in traffic being brought to a standstill; a damming effect caused by the motorway due to flooding of adjacent areas; collapse of part of the road embankment or of artistic works.

“Manual for Managing Winter Road Operations”
The manual defines the criteria and procedures for managing winter road operations, aimed at ensuring, at all times, the best possible conditions for the viability of the motorway network, interchanges, connecting ramps and junctions under management when affected by events severe enough to disrupt vehicle traffic, while fully complying with safety standards for both users and operators.

In the presence of particularly critical situations caused by contingent circumstances (e.g., roadworks/other factors), Autostrade Alto Adriatico may implement specific emergency-management plans, subject to prior agreements with institutional bodies (Prefectures, Police, Local Authorities).

The closure of one or more motorway sections— which may be lifted only once traffic flow has been stably restored— is implemented, in the presence of snow, whenever any blockage of traffic occurs, even temporary, due to one or more vehicles becoming cross-positioned across the lanes or an equivalent congestion (for example, vehicles stopped on one or more lanes) that causes a rapid build-up of queued vehicles.

“Procedure for Managing Traffic Issues Caused by High-Impact Weather Events”
The document, signed by the Traffic Police, Autovie Venete S.p.A. and Autostrade per l’Italia S.p.A., defines—on the basis of the provisions set out in the Operational Protocol for the regulation of heavy-vehicle traffic in snow conditions issued by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport on 14.12.2005 and subsequent amendments—the operational procedures aimed at managing emergency situations resulting from weather events that cause traffic blockages, dynamic filtering and/or temporary stoppage of heavy vehicles on motorway carriageways.

The procedures are intended to ensure the optimal use of information flows and the coordination of the activities to be implemented for reporting any anomalies caused by the above-mentioned events. The implementation of the Protocol’s procedures is agreed between the Operations Centres of the Concessionary Companies involved, in coordination with the Traffic Police, along the motorway sections of the A4 Venice–Trieste and A23 Palmanova–Tarvisio (State Border).

“Motorway A27 Venice–Belluno – Procedure for managing traffic disruptions caused by high-impact weather events”
The document, signed by the Traffic Police Department of Veneto, Autovie Venete S.p.A., Autostrade per l’Italia S.p.A. and Concessioni Autostradali Venete S.p.A., defines the operational procedures for managing emergency situations resulting from weather events that cause traffic blockages, dynamic filtering and/or temporary stoppage of heavy vehicles on motorway carriageways, in accordance with the Viabilità Italia circular No. 300/A/8685/12/131/0/35 of 30 November 2012, which sets out the guidelines for managing road emergencies caused by snowfall.

These procedures aim to ensure the optimal use of information flows and the coordination of the actions to be taken to report any anomalies resulting from the aforementioned events. The implementation of the Protocol’s procedures is agreed between the Operations Centres of the Concessionary Companies involved, in coordination with the Traffic Police, on the motorway sections A4, A57 and the Marco Polo Airport Link Road (D25) under the responsibility of Concessioni Autostradali Venete, A28 and A57 under the responsibility of Autovie Venete, and A27 and the Conegliano link road (R64) under the responsibility of Autostrade per l’Italia.

“Procedure for managing critical issues arising from possible restrictions on heavy-vehicle circulation in Slovenia – Special Section of the Snow Plan of the Trieste Prefecture (since 2014)”
The document, issued by the Trieste Prefecture, defines—supplementing the Snow Plans issued by Viabilità Italia and by the Prefectures of Trieste and Gorizia, and in compliance with the principles underlying their adoption—the operational procedures for managing emergency situations resulting from weather events or other critical conditions that lead to traffic blockages and/or the interruption of heavy-vehicle circulation (with a maximum permissible laden mass exceeding 7.5 t) within Slovenian territory, and the consequent traffic ban at the border.

Taking into account the structural characteristics of the road/motorway network approaching the Republic of Slovenia, and in order to ensure the mobility of heavy vehicles within the national areas not subject to restrictions, the procedure identifies the Villesse Toll Plaza, located on the A34 Villesse–Gorizia motorway, as the designated filtering zone.

Last update: Monday 17 November 2025