Raggi: We want to move forward with Stadio della Roma as soon as possible

Raggi, speaking with Gazzetta dello Sport in a new interview released on Friday, clarified the current situation surrounding the project's final approval.

“There is a political desire to push forward with the Tor di Valle stadium project as soon as possible," Raggi said, when asked if 2019 would be the year that the project breaks ground.

"We are working hard with this objective in mind, while respecting all laws and the best interests of the community.”

The ‘Rinascimento’ investigation is behind us now: can we now say with certainty that the project was not tainted by any form of corruption?

“The investigators stated clearly that the inquiry did not involve any administrative documents relating to the stadium. Nevertheless, I immediately requested that due diligence was done on the entire process – because we want to move forward with this project in an open and legal way.”

Will the various ‘public works’ included in the second version, the one you have been working on in the last few years, be enough?

“According to all the departments, yes. And I certainly hope so. But I have asked for further reports and clarifications because I want to be certain that, once the stadium is built, everything works as it should. The fans and the residents of the city must be proud of this project. And soon they will be.

"With the updated project we will bring together two very important roads, Via Ostiense and Via del Mare – something that has been decades in the making. There is also another interesting addition: bringing Fosso di Vallerano up to safety standards. This is an inhabited area that often floods when it rains; we will solve an ongoing problem that was been affecting thousands of people for a number of decades.”

Six years on from the start of the process, can you tell us what is still missing for the project to complete the administrative phase and receive final authorisation?

“First and foremost, I am waiting for the report I requested from the Politecnico di Torino – after that we will think about the urban planning variation. It is not a legal requirement but I thought that, after everything we have read in the media, the citizens deserved further analysis.

"There are still a few open questions: for example, I still believe that we need to invest more in the Roma-Lido railway line that connects the city centre to Ostia. That project would be even more useful for the city. Lazio Regione own the line and, for about three years now, has had 180 million euros to modernise that specific stretch of it – and it still has not been spent.”

The preliminary report on traffic flow that you requested from the Politecnico di Torino mentioned ‘catastrophic scenarios’ for vehicle transit in the area. How will this issue be resolved?

“After that we sent a comprehensive data package to the Politecnico that underlined, among other things, the sustainable mobility strategy that our administration is implementing in all areas of the city. Within this general framework, we have also analysed local traffic flows to evaluate the best possible solutions. With this additional information now available to them, the final report will be completed.

"I’ll give you an example: throughout the city we are focusing heavily on ‘railway solutions’ – improving options with trams, the metro and overground lines - and therefore the transport solutions for the stadium certainly need to include a development of the nearby overground lines.

"In this regard, I am interested in strengthening the Roma-Lido line and the other lines in that area. I can confirm that the promoters' economic contribution will be pushed towards acquiring new trains for the entire line. I hope that Lazio Regione, that run the railways, can also do their part.”

After Prime Minister Conte’s recent admission, is there once again the possibility that the government could contribute to the project? Perhaps in the building of Ponte di Traiano?

“Above and beyond the specific stadium issue, any type of government contribution that helps improve the life of the local community is always welcome. As I’ve always stressed, Roma needs to receive greater government involvement, both in terms of power and resources.”