The plan for the new Tiber

Ponte Sant’Angelo Bridge, in the capital’s Historic Centre, obstructing the water from flowing.
Complex, delicate operations are therefore needed to remove them, engaging top experts from the National Civil Protection System.
Naval, coast guard, fire brigade and Civil Protection Department experts participate and coordinate all the System’s components, including the police force and teams of volunteers. AMA and the Rome Council Gardens Service also take part in the operations.
All the operations are done with great care to avoid harm to the structure of the bridge dating back to the Emperor Adriano times and on which Pope Clement lX had a new parapet built by Bernini and ten statues of angels sculptured by the apprentices in his school.

The tidal wave leaves its mark in Rome along the section of the Tiber flowing through the city.
This comprises refuse and pieces of wood piled up underneath bridges, trees fallen along the banks, destroyed quaysides: major and minor damages scattered around between Castel Giubileo and the estuary.

Photos of the motor vessel and four pontoons wedged under the arches of Sant’Angelo bridge and obstructing the current made their way around the world. Top experts from the National Civil Protection System were called in for the complex, delicate removal operations, coordinated by the Department.

This is how the first response to the “Tiber emergency” caused by bad weather was given.

A second stage was begun in January to clean and reclaim the river as well as works to make the metropolitan section of the Tiber going from Castel Giubileo to the estuary safer. The Head of the Civil Protection Department, in agreement with the Commissioner Delegate of Regione Lazio and president of the Region Piero Marrazzo, undertakes the work of coordinating the authorities and others responsible for the operations.

This activity is provided by Ordinance 3734 dated 16 January 2009, published in the Official Gazette on 24 January last.
The ordinance also includes the work of a general reorganization of the floating structures, either permanent or anchored to the quaysides, such as restaurants and sports clubs, and the barges along the river.