The selected route involves the construction of a new road infrastructure starting from the town of Tortorici and ascending to connect with State Road SS 116 (via which it is already possible to complete the route to Randazzo and SS 120). Currently, this function is served by Provincial Road SP 152, which links Tortorici to Casitti Superiore and then to SS 116. However, the SP 152 is characterized by excessive curvature, narrow road width, and restrictive surrounding conditions, making its modernization either impossible or highly impractical. The adopted solution is to construct a new road infrastructure with a total length of approximately 11.7 km. This route ascends along the Capodoro stream valley up to the hamlet of Casitti Superiore, where it connects with the State Road. However, due to the significant elevation difference that must be overcome—approximately 550 meters between Tortorici and Casitti Superiore (less than 3 km apart in a straight line) and an additional 100 meters to reach the State Road—it is not feasible to design the route with a series of broad curves and straight sections conforming to standard road alignment norms. Consequently, the inclusion of "switchback curves" or "hairpin turns" is necessary, effectively defining the new infrastructure as a mountain road.

Despite the presence of hairpin turns, the new design delivers a substantial improvement in the route's performance and functionality, reducing travel times and enhancing safety compared to the existing infrastructure, which suffers from significant shortcomings and critical issues. These improvements are attributable to:

• Adoption of appropriate minimum curvatures with radii between 30–90 meters;
• Reduced average longitudinal gradient: lower overall steepness, enhancing drivability;
• Improved cross-sectional geometry: designed to meet the standards of a Type C2 road.

This project represents a significant step forward in addressing the region's transportation needs while ensuring safer and more efficient connectivity

Development of an AMC Procedure for Prioritizing Functional Sections

A specialized AMC (Analytical Multi-Criteria) procedure has been developed to identify priority functional sections for earlier operational implementation, thereby accelerating their construction timelines based on the following factors:

• Expected benefits for each section, derived from comprehensive transport analyses;
• Estimated construction costs associated with each project section.

The prioritization analysis for functional sections was conducted through a ranking process informed by a weighted comparison of the following indices:

1. Immediate Profitability Index: Evaluates the short-term financial viability of each section;
2. Travel Time Reduction Index: Measures the potential decrease in travel time for each section;
3. Effectiveness Index: Assesses the intervention's efficiency in terms of time savings achievable for each section.

This structured approach enables the optimization of resource allocation and ensures the most impactful sections are prioritized for early construction and commissioning, thereby maximizing overall project benefits.