On the hills overlooking Ancona, a small but meaningful initiative is taking shape on our construction site. Instead of being felled, twenty olive trees are being carefully relocated and replanted. A practical choice that reflects both respect for local heritage and compliance with environmental regulations.
Olive trees hold a special place in Italy’s cultural and agricultural landscape. Their protection is anchored in legislation dating back to July 1945, when a war‑torn country relied heavily on agriculture to restore food security and rebuild its economy. While responsibility for enforcement has since moved to the regional authorities, the principle still stands. In the Marche region, olive trees affected by construction works must be preserved through authorised relocation.
At the Ancona site, the trees originally stood within the footprint of the operational camp, located between two tunnels. Rather than treating their removal as inevitable, the project team worked within the legal framework to find a suitable alternative location.
Today, the olive trees are being replanted between a viaduct and the future Torrette 2 tunnel, in an area carefully prepared to support their long‑term survival. The opening in the surrounding vegetation marks the exact spot where the works will soon continue underground.
The relocation was planned with care and attention. Soil conditions, terrain, timing and planting methods were all taken into account to maximise the trees’ chances of thriving again. It is a reminder that infrastructure projects can adapt to their surroundings instead of imposing themselves on them.
“There’s also a very human side to this,” says Resident Manager Nico De Koning. “We’re fortunate to have real olive enthusiasts on the team. Aurelio, our Direttore di cantiere, tends his own olive groves back home in Campania, so he knows these trees inside out. That personal connection really matters. It brings extra care, extra pride and genuine respect for the land we’re working on.”
About the project
Commissioned by ANAS, Italy’s national road authority, the project is being delivered as a Design and Build contract by the Donati‑BESIX joint venture. It involves the construction of a 3.3‑kilometre road link connecting the port of Ancona to the Strada Statale 16 “Adriatica”, diverting traffic away from the narrow passage through the village of Torrette. The works include two excavated tunnels and a 285‑metre viaduct, with a planned execution period of 49 months.