Bridging Cities, Fostering Mobility, Safeguarding Nature: The Role of Environmental Monitoring in Infrastructure Projects

Infrastructure projects significantly enhance urban connectivity and economic growth but also pose environmental risks. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and monitoring throughout pre-operam, in-operam, and post-operam phases mitigate these impacts. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of environmental monitoring through three Italian case studies from the SEW-Line Project. The BreBeMi A35 Highway improved connectivity but faced environmental challenges in air quality, noise, and soil contamination. Continuous monitoring supervised by ARPA Lombardia revealed acceptable air quality but noise concerns near residential areas, alongside the preservation of archaeological elements. The Mestre A4 Bypass reduced traffic congestion and emissions, employing innovative bioindicator-based water quality and wildlife monitoring. Soil contamination highlighted the need for enhanced protection strategies. The Verona-Padova High-Speed Railway employed advanced GIS, remote sensing, and vibration monitoring technologies, effectively improving logistics but facing noise management challenges. The findings advocate investing in advanced monitoring technologies, adaptive management, community engagement, and continuous methodological learning to achieve sustainable infrastructure development.