Heavy rain on Friday 25 September 2026 triggered a landslide near the entrance of the Santa Maria di Pozzano tunnel in Castellammare di Stabia, sending mud, debris and water into the tunnel.
More than half of the approximately 5.1 km tunnel was affected, according to local press reports. The first section, between km 0+000 and km 3+700, is now closed to traffic until Thursday 15 October 2026.
The closure affects a key link in the Castellammare–Sorrento Peninsula corridor, with traffic diverted onto the alternative road network while Anas carries out clearing and repair work.
What happened
The landslide struck near the Pozzano entrance following intense rainfall. Mud and water entered the tunnel bore and reached technical rooms, spreading over more than half the tunnel's length.
The affected section runs from km 0+000 to km 3+700. That stretch will remain closed while inspection, clearance and restoration continue.
Why the closure lasts until mid-October
Water and mud damaged technical rooms and compromised the tunnel's fire-protection system.
Because the fire-protection installation must be assessed, repaired and tested before the tunnel can safely reopen, Anas has kept the closure in place. The work includes damage assessment, removal of mud and debris, restoration of damaged systems and safety checks.
Local outlets, citing Anas communications, report completion around mid-October. The 15 October date is an operational estimate and may change if restoration, testing or safety checks take longer.
Diversion: how traffic is moving
Traffic is being diverted through the existing bypass and the former SS145 route, including the Seiano tunnel.
That diversion keeps the connection between Castellammare di Stabia and the Sorrento Peninsula open while the damaged section of the Galleria Santa Maria di Pozzano remains closed. The sources describe the traffic-management measures but do not provide current journey-time or congestion measurements.
Drivers using the corridor should follow signed diversion routes and Anas and municipal notices, as the closure and other municipal road restrictions are causing wider traffic disruption across the area.
What travellers should know before setting out
Two points from the available reports are especially useful for planning:
- Use the documented alternative. The confirmed diversion is via the former SS145 and the Seiano tunnel. The retrieved material does not provide a detailed official timetable for each repair phase or a direct Anas web page, so travellers should check current local-press and road-authority updates before departure rather than relying on unofficial reopening rumours.
- Treat 15 October as a target, not a guarantee. The reports describe clearing, assessment and restoration as ongoing, with completion estimated around mid-October subject to complications. Anyone planning regular commuting or accommodation transfers through the corridor should keep an alternative plan in place in case safety checks extend the closure.
The exact condition of individual tunnel systems beyond the fire-protection installation has not been specified in the available material. Further updates are expected as Anas completes its assessments and restoration work.
