Nightmare day for those leaving for Italy today, also for the motorists who found themselves stuck for hours under the sun in a 13-kilometre queue on the A1 between Florence North and Barberino di Mugello. Also today, those who had decided to leave had to face the global chaos on flights due to the Crowdstrike computer bug and the breakdown of the high-speed train near Florence, with delays of up to 160 minutes.
The burning truck that blocked the A1
The serious delays on the A1 were caused by a truck carrying paper that was on fire, in the section between Calenzano and Barberino di Mugello towards Bologna on the Direttissima. The firefighters intervened from 3:35 p.m. with three teams and as many tankers. However, the fire also spread to the vegetation along the road. Traffic was blocked for several hours, before being reopened on a single lane.
Cars queuing up to 13 km away
At 7pm, a few hours after the fire, there was still a 13-kilometre queue between Florence Scandicci and Bivio A1-Variante, despite the fact that traffic was moving towards the expressway towards Bologna. The Autostrade company offers alternative routes on its website, even for long distances, telling you to exit at Valdichiana or Orte, take the E45 towards Perugia, follow the A14 and get back on the motorway at Cesena.
Holidaymakers stuck for hours in the sun
Among the travellers who were stuck in their cars for hours between Calenzano and Barberino di Mugello due to the traffic blocked on the road until the overtaking lane towards Bologna reopened around 7pm, there were also elderly people and children travelling on holiday. According to reports, many did not receive assistance because they were stuck due to the traffic jam. Over the hours, the firefighters removed and transported the trailer of the lorry that caught fire, towing it to the Corsano rest area where they are demolishing it to allow the careful extinguishing of the bundles of paper.
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