Consolidation of embankments in the final stretch of the Era River

In recent years, the Valdarno Inferiore Civil Engineering Department has carried out in-depth studies on the hydraulic risk of the Era River in the urban area of Pontedera. These studies revealed that the upstream expansion tanks currently planned are insufficiently effective in reducing flood discharge, due to their limited capacity to increase the floodable volume. The situation is further exacerbated by the vulnerability of the embankments, particularly in densely populated areas such as Pontedera and Ponsacco, where flood events may cause breaches by overtopping or piping, with potentially severe consequences—even at flow rates that would otherwise be manageable under normal conditions.
To address these critical issues, the Region of Tuscany has commissioned a project involving three main interventions: the installation of Larssen-type steel sheet piles, using the static driving method, along a total of 2,000 m of embankment; the extension of the right-bank embankment between the SS 67 road and the Napoleonic Bridge, in order to move the hydraulic closure line further away from residential areas; and the localized restoration of existing masonry structures near the Napoleonic Bridge. These structural works are supported by geognostic investigations, laboratory testing to determine geotechnical parameters, and war risk assessments. The overall objective is to strengthen the area’s hydraulic defenses and ensure greater safety in the event of extreme weather events with a return period of 200 years.

2022 – ongoing

Client
Government Commissioner for Hydrogeological Risk Mitigation
Tuscany Region – Lower Valdarno Civil Engineering Department

In collaboration with geologists from the Ingeo studio.