Research presented by Ecogest in Madrid shows that green can increase the resilience of highways and reduce the effects of extreme weather events
Ravenna, May 26, 2025 – At a time in history when Europe’s highway infrastructures are being challenged by the effects of climate change, Ecogest S.p.A. came to ASECAP Days 2025 with a clear vision: green is no longer just a decorative element, but must be recognized as an active and strategic component for the protection of roads, people and the environment.
During the international event held in Madrid, the Romagna-based company, represented by General Manager. Piero Torchi, illustrated the technical study “The Implementation of New Green Spaces as a Prevention Tool for the Effects of Climate Change on the Highway System,” an operational analysis that proposes concrete solutions to increase the resilience of road infrastructure through the design, care and redevelopment of green spaces along the road network.
“Green is not just an aesthetic detail: it is the first line of defense against the effects of climate change on infrastructure,” said Valerio Molinari, Ecogest’s key shareholder. “Designing green areas along the road network means creating natural barriers against extreme heat, erosion and flooding. But there’s more: it means giving back space to biodiversity, turning infrastructure into active ecological corridors. It is a choice that protects the land, increases road safety and generates environmental and economic value. This is how we understand the future of maintenance: strategic, integrated and resilient.”
Some projects presented:
- 11 km of new trees along SP19 in Brescia to mitigate noise and CO₂.
- Green redevelopment at service stations on the Flower Highway with facilities to promote stormwater absorption and accommodate pollinating insects.
- Targeted reforestation in the Ticino Park (PV) and the Asti Paleontological Park to support biodiversity and against invasive species.
A central element of Ecogest’s strategy is the exclusive use of native plants, which ensures sustainability, low water impact and low maintenance costs. Natural and mechanical practices are also employed to eliminate weed species, along with active interventions on the water runoff network to prevent flooding and improve road safety.
Green as a lever for infrastructure safety and economy
Ecogest reiterated how integrated greenery management can reduce the risk of accidents, protect the infrastructure over time, and even lower insurance costs related to damage from extreme events, which are increasingly common in the current climate context.
With this intervention at ASECAP Days, Ecogest consolidates its role as an environmental innovator in the European infrastructure sector, promoting a systemic approach in which environment, safety and sustainable management dialogue in a virtuous way.