Verrazzano Bridge: Repairs not Demolition

Florence continues to develop its urban infrastructure with construction of the new T3 tramline which will have 17 stops connecting Piazza della Libertà with Bagno a Ripoli. To facilitate the project, now scheduled for completion in 2027, a study was conducted on the structural stability of Ponte Giovanni da Verrazzano, the bridge over which the new tram will connect neighborhoods of the two sides of the Arno River. 

Professor Giacomo Morano of the University of Florence, commissioned by the Municipal Administration to evaluate the condition of the bridge, announced on August 12, 2026 that while it is in need of some age-related repairs, no major reconstruction will be necessary, and demolition has been ruled out.

These renovations are expected to span a seven month period, costing approximately €7 million from the project’s budget. At the time when Ponte Verrazzano was built in the late 60s and early 70s it was considered a model of modern engineering techniques. Spanning 143.8 meters (157 yards) long and 21 meters (23 yards) wide, the bridge enabled countless residents and visitors to travel across Florence and successfully reduced traffic on the city’s older bridges. 

The nearby Ponte Necioni was inaugurated in May for car traffic.

Soon, in addition to private vehicles, Ponte Verrazzano will play an integral role in Florence’s public transportation system. The T3 tramline, set to open in about a year’s time will run along Viale Matteotti to the ring road toward Viale Giovine Italia from where it will continue down Lungarno Pecori Giraldi, del Tempio, and Cristoforo Colombo before crossing the bridge to Via Poggio Bracciolini, Viale Giannotti, Viale Europa, and finally, Bagno a Ripoli. 

The upcoming repairs to Ponte Verrazzano mark a major milestone for the T3 tramline project. Despite the inconvenience of a temporary seven month closure, the work promises to be well worth it in the long run. (Francesca Negri)