Italy’s Santomarco Tunnel: Webuild’s High-Speed Rail Project

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Introduction

A Webuild-led consortium has been awarded a €1.6 billion contract for the Santomarco Tunnel as part of the Paola-Cosenza doubling section on the Salerno-Reggio Calabria high-speed railway line in Italy. The project, commissioned by RFI, was announced on August 21, 2025, and involves the construction of the 15km-plus Santomarco Tunnel and related infrastructure.

Contract Details

Webuild, in a consortium with Ghella, Pizzarotti, and SELI, has secured a €1.6 billion ($1.86 billion) contract for the Paola-Cosenza doubling section. Webuild holds a 60% share of the contract. The Paola-Cosenza section spans approximately 22.2km in Calabria and is primarily underground.

Project Scope and Infrastructure

The project includes the construction of the Santomarco Tunnel, which is over 15km in length. The new tunnel will be built about 100m from the existing single-track tunnel, which will be decommissioned upon completion. The project will utilize four tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for the excavation of the double-tube, single-track tunnel. The construction will also involve nine railway bridges and two viaducts: one spanning 350m over the A2 motorway and another 205m over the Settimo stream. A new station will be built in Montalto Uffugo.

Strategic Significance and Route

The railway line will traverse the Province of Cosenza, passing through Paola, San Lucido, Rende, Montalto Uffugo, San Vincenzo la Costa, and San Fili. This route aims to connect southern Italy with northern Italy and Europe, forming part of the Scandinavian-Mediterranean corridor in the TEN-T Network. The new infrastructure aims to enhance rail connections between the Tyrrhenian coast and the interior regions of Calabria, improving access to Cosenza and bolstering the Bari-Taranto-Gioia Tauro freight route.

Webuild’s Involvement and Other Projects

Webuild is also constructing Lot 1A Battipaglia-Romagnano on the same railway line, encompassing 35km of new line and a junction with the Potenza-Metaponto section. The company began work on the Saginara Tunnel in February of this year. With the addition of the Paola-Cosenza section, Webuild is now responsible for approximately 60km of the high-speed railway section between Salerno and Reggio Calabria. Webuild is currently involved in 19 projects in Southern Italy, including the islands, which cover over 320km of high-speed and high-capacity railway lines. The project is anticipated to create around 1,500 jobs.

Conclusion

Webuild, leading a consortium, has been awarded a €1.6 billion contract by RFI for the Paola-Cosenza doubling section of the Salerno-Reggio Calabria high-speed railway line, including the Santomarco Tunnel. The project is part of the Scandinavian-Mediterranean corridor and will involve the construction of a new tunnel, bridges, viaducts, and a new station, enhancing rail capacity and connectivity in Southern Italy.

Company Summary

Webuild: Leads a consortium and holds a 60% share of the €1.6 billion contract for the Paola-Cosenza doubling section of the Salerno-Reggio Calabria high-speed railway line. The company is involved in 19 projects in Southern Italy.

Ghella: Part of the consortium.

Pizzarotti: Part of the consortium.

SELI: Webuild’s subsidiary focused on tunnelling and is part of the consortium.

RFI: Commissioned the project.

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