The State Road 115 "Sud Occidentale Sicula" is a crucial component of the regional road network, serving as the only fast-flowing route along the southern coast of Sicily, stretching from Castelvetrano to Gela. Its alignment functions not only as a direct connection between the main urban centers along the coast but also as a preferred route for long-distance traffic traversing the island from one end to the other.

In addition, by running along the southern coastline, SS 115 acts as a vital artery connecting the inland areas to the broader regional road network. Its strategic importance is underscored by its integration into the SNIT (National Integrated Transport System) as a primary coastal road and its inclusion in the European Road Network as Route E931, linking Mazara del Vallo to Gela, and Route E45, connecting Gela to Rosolini.

Despite its strategic significance, SS 115 is characterized by highly inconsistent functional and performance standards, with numerous areas where traffic conditions deteriorate significantly, particularly near major urban centers it intersects. One of the most critical issues is observed in the area surrounding the city of Agrigento, a central hub for the development of SS 115, which still suffers from an underdeveloped infrastructure system linking it to the island's main provincial capitals.

The strong urban and touristic nature of the Agrigento area has effectively transformed this major artery into a sprawling urban periphery, extending from the municipality of Siculiana to the Villaggio Mosè district. Furthermore, the geometry of the roadway and its safety features vary widely, resulting in inconsistent quality and suboptimal safety conditions, often incompatible with the road’s role as a key infrastructure.

Given these challenges, the modernization of the SS 115 Gela – Agrigento – Castelvetrano route has long been a primary goal for completing Sicily’s road and motorway network, to support socio-economic and tourism development. The proposed bypass of SS 115 in the Agrigento area aims to improve and expand the current coastal road network, optimizing vehicle flow both through and around the city of Agrigento. By addressing these critical issues, State Road 115 "Sud Occidentale Sicula" will better serve its dual purpose as a high-capacity coastal route and a key driver for regional development and connectivity.

The new fast-moving road axis has therefore been designed to perform two main functions:
• primary road network within the regional network, contributing to the completion of the coastal motorway ring, and distribution road network in support of the local road network. It improves accessibility to urban centres, tourist areas and key services such as education and health facilities, with a significant reduction in travel times.
• The need to modernize the road and the node of interconnection with the arteries directed towards the hinterland, in the area agrigentina, is supported by the acts of programmatic direction at national, regional and provincial level.
The Building Information Modeling (BIM) approach to design has had many advantages, Including improving collaboration between the various project actors and the ability to acquire design data that can also be used for future operation, maintenance and operation. BIM is confirmed as an essential tool for the correct development and management of the entire project.