The Santa Maria di Pozzano tunnel between Castellammare di Stabia and Vico Equense is expected to reopen fully from 7 a.m. on Thursday, October 15, after almost three weeks of closure caused by the storm of September 25.
Road operator Anas is completing the restoration of the fire-prevention system damaged in the flooding, according to Il Mattino. The system was put out of action when flooding, mud and debris affected more than half of the tunnel, including its technical rooms.
What happened on September 25
On September 25, a violent cloudburst hit the Castellammare area and the Sorrento Peninsula. The Pozzano tunnel was closed in both directions after the carriageway flooded, with local diversions put in place and Anas and law enforcement responding on site.
A landslide and flooding carried mud, debris and water into the tunnel, compromising the technical rooms of the fire-prevention system. That damage prevented a rapid reopening and pushed the expected return to normal service to mid-October.
In the meantime, traffic on the older ex-SS 145 was restored in both directions, while the Pozzano tunnel remained closed pending the mid-October reopening.
The reopening plan
Anas has sourced special components and is finishing the restoration of the equipment needed for a safe reopening, according to Il Mattino.
The full reopening is scheduled from 7 a.m. on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
To remove the temporary bypass installed during the works, the tunnel will be closed overnight between 11 p.m. on October 14 and 7 a.m. on October 15. During those hours traffic will be diverted through the center of Vico Equense and along the old coastal route of the SS 145.
Why the closure mattered
The closure required diversions and affected connections between Castellammare di Stabia and the Sorrento Peninsula.
The tunnel is part of the SS 145 variant, managed by Anas, and is about 5.1 kilometers long, linking Castellammare di Stabia with Vico Equense.
What to watch
The October 15 date reported by Il Mattino is an operational forecast. No independent confirmation after the actual reopening was included in the material reviewed for this article.
The material reviewed also does not document whether the restoration of the fire-prevention system is definitive or whether any operating restrictions will remain after reopening.
