Pontinia
The history of the Pontina State Road
The Pontina State Road (SS 148) was built in the 1940s, following the path of the ancient Pontina route or Severian Way that connected Rome to Terracina. The northern section, between Rome and Latina, was inaugurated in 1950, while the southern section, between Borgo Piave and Terracina, was built between the 1960s and 1970s by intersecting and expanding existing roads, such as the reclamation road called "Via Lunga," built in the 1930s to reclaim the Pontine Marshes. In 1950, State Road 148 was established, initially called "Latina," but later renamed "Pontina." The management of the road passed from the Lazio Region to the Provinces of Rome and Latina, until it was entrusted to ASTRAL in 2007 and returned under the management of ANAS in 2019.
The characteristics of the Pontina State Road
The Pontina State Road is a heavily traveled expressway that begins in Rome's EUR district and ends in Terracina, meeting the State Road 7 Via Appia. It crosses settlements built in the 1930s such as Pomezia, Aprilia, and Latina, as well as the Circeo National Park. The Pontina has been downgraded from a primary extra-urban road to a secondary extra-urban road due to poor exit safety, and the speed limit has been reduced to 90 km/h between Pomezia and North Latina. Furthermore, the section between Spinaceto and Pomezia has a limit of 70 km/h due to its high danger. Recently, the section between Latina and Terracina underwent a restructuring with the construction of a broader median strip at the expense of some lanes.
The path of the Pontina State Road
The Pontina State Road starts from the Venticinque Marzo 1957 square in Rome, where Oceanic Atlantic avenue meets Oceanic Pacific avenue. From here, the Pontina heads south, crossing towns like Ardea, Pomezia, Aprilia, and Latina. The road ends in Terracina, intersecting with State Road 7 Via Appia.
In general, the Pontina is an important road for connecting Rome to the city of Terracina, passing through some populous towns. Despite being downgraded from its previous classification as a primary extra-urban road to a secondary extra-urban road, it remains a frequently traveled road. Thanks to ANAS's rehabilitation program, the most worn stretches of the road will be restored to their maximum performance, thus improving the safety and efficiency of the Pontina State Road along its entire length.
