The Spada Bridge project, a cycle and pedestrian walkway connecting Lugaggia and Sonvico in Switzerland, faces further delays due to a legal appeal to the Federal Tribunal. The appeal challenges the awarding of the contract, previously validated by the Cantonal Administrative Court. This adds to previous delays caused by rising material costs and complexities in construction.
The initial budget of 8.775 million francs in 2021 has increased to over 10.5 million due to factors such as the Russo-Ukrainian war and increased steel prices. Further cost increases resulted from the complexity of the project, leading to the cancellation and re-tendering of the contract. The final cost, including a separate Sarone walkway, reached 12.525 million francs.
Despite delays, the Spada Bridge and Sarone walkway are considered strategically important for improving cycling infrastructure in the Lugano region. The projects aim to provide safer cycling routes and better connectivity for residents, connecting areas like Sonvico, Cadro, and Dino to Tesserete and Lugano station.
The bridge's design dates back over a decade. While initial plans envisioned work starting in autumn 2023 with a 16-month construction period, the legal challenge and other technical issues have pushed the completion date back considerably. The Sarone walkway also faces delays due to structural issues requiring further static analysis.