The greenways meet the current needs for sustainable mobility, being environmentally friendly, alternative and complementary to motorized mobility. The disused railway tracks are well-suited for conversion into greenways, both for their general construction (low slopes, large radius bends, etc.) and for the presence of related structures (stations, railway tolls) used for services associated with the path itself. In the island of Sardinia (Western Mediterranean Sea), there are many disused railway lines, which run through the territory in areas that are of particular interest from the perspective of environment and tourism. In this contribution, we will focus on the Sulcis Iglesiente, an historic region of Southwestern Sardinia, where in addition to disused state or regional railways, there are several mining railroads that, built in the years of mining boom in this part of the island (early 1900’s), are now totally abandoned. Mining railroads keep the same features of other types of railway construction, but they run through landscapes of a special environmental value, enriched by the evidences of past industrial activities that have historically been fundamental for the social-economic growth of this territory. This paper concerns the design of a network of equipped greenways for the Sulcis Iglesiente, separate from the ordinary roads, but integrated with it, serving both local and tourists, offering to the users an exceptional historical and environmental context. This is an ongoing process, sponsored by the Geo-mineral Historic and Environmental Park of Sardinia, involving both public administrations and the local communities. On the whole, the Park regards the old railway structures as a driving force for the enhancement of its patrimony of industrial archaeology.
GREENWAYS AND DISUSED RAILWAYS. THE CASE OF SULCIS-IGLESIENTE (SARDINIA, ITALY)
BALLETTO, GINEVRA;NAITZA, STEFANO;
2010-01-01
Abstract
The greenways meet the current needs for sustainable mobility, being environmentally friendly, alternative and complementary to motorized mobility. The disused railway tracks are well-suited for conversion into greenways, both for their general construction (low slopes, large radius bends, etc.) and for the presence of related structures (stations, railway tolls) used for services associated with the path itself. In the island of Sardinia (Western Mediterranean Sea), there are many disused railway lines, which run through the territory in areas that are of particular interest from the perspective of environment and tourism. In this contribution, we will focus on the Sulcis Iglesiente, an historic region of Southwestern Sardinia, where in addition to disused state or regional railways, there are several mining railroads that, built in the years of mining boom in this part of the island (early 1900’s), are now totally abandoned. Mining railroads keep the same features of other types of railway construction, but they run through landscapes of a special environmental value, enriched by the evidences of past industrial activities that have historically been fundamental for the social-economic growth of this territory. This paper concerns the design of a network of equipped greenways for the Sulcis Iglesiente, separate from the ordinary roads, but integrated with it, serving both local and tourists, offering to the users an exceptional historical and environmental context. This is an ongoing process, sponsored by the Geo-mineral Historic and Environmental Park of Sardinia, involving both public administrations and the local communities. On the whole, the Park regards the old railway structures as a driving force for the enhancement of its patrimony of industrial archaeology.
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