General information on the use and management of infrastructure and services
Conditions d’une utilisation sûre des infrastructures et des services
The A21 Piacenza – Cremona – Brescia motorway, the junction to Fiorenzuola d’Arda and the “Ospitaletto – Montichiari” junction are managed by the company Autovia Padana S.p.A.
Access to the infrastructure can take place either from its own tollbooths or from those of other interconnected Concessionaires, allowing the user to cross continuous stretches of motorway managed by different companies, with a single payment at the destination.
Motorway tolls can be collected using either the “closed” or the “semi-closed” toll collection system, for more specific information see the Toll Info section of the website.
The road platform consists of two carriageways, one for each direction of travel, which accommodate:
- two lanes plus an emergency lane on the section between Piacenza and the Manerbio junction, on the branch road to Fiorenzuola d’Arda and on the ‘Ospitaletto – Montichiari’ motorway junction
- three lanes plus an emergency lane on the section between the Manerbio junction and the interconnection with the A4 at Brescia.
It should be remembered that the carriageway is the portion of the road destined for the flow of vehicles, while the lane is the portion of the carriageway intended for the transit of a row of vehicles.
The infrastructure is then completed by emergency lay-bys and an emergency lane for each direction of travel.
In terms of dimensions, the Autovia Padana is included in category A motorways – extra-urban area of the Decree of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport of 5 November 2011 no. 6792 whose design speed is in the 90/140 km/h range.
The operating speed under ordinary conditions is generally 130 km/h, any variations are indicated on the route by the appropriate vertical signs or shown on the PMV.
As motorways are high-speed transport infrastructures, they cannot be used by all vehicles. Article 175 of the Highway Code identifies which vehicles are permitted and which are excluded.
Pedestrians and animals (properly guarded) may only drive in the service and rest areas. You may only walk in the emergency lanes to reach emergency call points.
Driving a vehicle that is not permitted on the motorway is sanctioned in accordance with the Highway Code.
Driving behaviour while driving on the motorway is regulated by Section 176 of the Road Traffic Act.
Among the infrastructural safety equipment it is worth mentioning the emergency lay-bys and the emergency call system consisting of SOS posts, positioned every 2 km, with the possibility of requesting mechanical and medical assistance.
In this regard, it is worth reiterating that motorway lay-bys are designed and built solely and exclusively to deal with emergency situations. Prolonged parking is not permitted in these areas, nor can you leave your vehicle there for long periods of time.
As soon as you stop, before getting out of your vehicle, it is a legal requirement to wear the orange or yellow high-visibility reflective jacket that is supplied with all vehicles.
Anyone who fails to comply with this provision risks a penalty under the Highway Code.
The lay-bys are reserved for emergency situations; for prolonged stops, one of the 6 equipped service areas must be used.
The services offered in the equipped areas are provided by economic operators operating under sub-concession; for details of services, please refer to the relevant section of this website Service Areas.
Service Charter
Autovia Padana S.p.A. has a Service Charter that contains information on the basic principles and services of the concessionaire, as well as policies and quality management, user protections and a handbook containing useful user numbers and addresses.
The Charter also explains how to access toll reimbursements and compensation; it lists information channels for up-to-date information on traffic and road conditions.
Worksite Management Criteria
Non-emergency worksites are, if possible, scheduled so as to limit the formation of delays and queues.
In order to reduce the impact on traffic, the most impactful activities, those involving closures of sections and/or junctions or service areas, are scheduled, giving preference to night hours where possible.
The scheduling of worksites also takes into account the greater volumes of users expected on special occasions, such as football matches, concerts, trade fairs, etc., and the traffic on the two main motorway arterial roads interconnected with the A.P., i.e. A1 MI-NA and A4 BS-PD.
All these choices, matured through many years of experience in infrastructure management, are also supported by the records and time series of traffic monitoring.
Open roadworks, Scheduled and Planned works
To access the Interactive Map click here and select the label “Relevant roadworks”.
To access the Roadworks section click here.
To access the Scheduled roadworks section click here.
To access the Planned works section click here.
Traffic Inhibition Measures
To access the Traffic Inhibition Measures section click here.
Categories of disruptive events
The categories of events that could generate traffic disruptions and/or dangerous situations are the following:
| Event categories | Average recovery times(*) |
| Obstacles in the lane | 22′ |
| Flooding | 38′ |
| Fires | 49′ |
| Accidents | 2h 16′ |
| Mechanical rescue service(**) | 1h 18′ |
| Slowdowns/Traffic jams | 1h 54′ |
(*) data referring to the year 2025
(**) refers to vehicles stopped in the lane
Emergency management protocols
The company, for the management of emergencies (winter operations, flooding, accidents, etc.) adopts specific procedures specifically drawn up and updated on the basis of the historical series recorded:
- the Winter Operations Management Plan: regulates the Concessionaire’s actions for ice prevention and snow removal operations during the winter period extended from November to March;
- the Operational Procedures for the Traffic and Traffic Service: regulates the activities to be implemented by the Operational Control Centre (COC) and the Traffic and Safety Service (TS);
- the Exceptional Events Emergency Plan summarises the main actions to be put in place by the Traffic and Security Service (TS), the Operational Control Centre (COC) and the Collection Service in the event of major exceptional events, including the activities necessary for the closure of individual elementary sections affected by the events.
Quality Indicators
Autovia Padana S.p.A. has identified the following quality indicators.
| Number | Description | Monitoring frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Journey safety | Annual |
| 2 | Regularity of service | Annual |
| 3 | Comfort of service | Annual |
| 4 | Services for disabled motorists | Annual |
| 5 | Information to users | Annual |
The quality indicators, better illustrated in the Service Charter, comply with the provisions of Directive No. 102 of 19/02/2009 issued by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. Discussions are still in progress with the Conceding Authority to define the indicators in accordance with the ART tariff system.
Information on functioning lanes/stations
The total number of stations and lanes on the managed motorway section is shown below.
| Piacenza-Brescia | Year 2024 |
|---|---|
| Description | Number |
| Stations | 7 |
| Entry toll lanes | 16 |
| Exit toll lanes | 30 |
| Lanes inoperative for > 24 h | 0 |
Information on toll calculation and unit tariff
Visit the Toll Info section for all information on tolls and tariffs.
Information on the existence of concessions
Any concessions and/or subscriptions for users can be found in the following Toll Info section.
Information on toll collection methods – consequences in case of non-payment
The toll collection methods, the consequences in case of non-payment and the procedures adopted for recovery (with specific evidence in case of non-detected entry) are available in the Toll Info section.
Information on services available at service areas
For information on the sub-concession of services for the distribution of fuel and lubricants, compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, commercial and catering activities located along the concession route, on quality indicators, price control commitments and mechanisms, as well as the number of charging points, refueling points, and other services available on the managed motorway section, visit the Service Areas section.
Information on complaints
Information on the number and categories of complaints received and processed, average response times, outcomes, and measures taken to overcome the main service disruptions that emerged, the level of user satisfaction with the response received, and the number and total value of any compensation paid are available below:
Total complaints Autovia Padana in 2025: 658
| ART classification | No. complaints |
|---|---|
| Infrastructure maintenance | 5 |
| Traffic or safety information | 5 |
| Information on roadworks | 0 |
| Toll collection methods | 453 |
| Toll quantification | 173 |
| Management of disruptions | 6 |
| Services provided in service areas | 4 |
| Accessibility of services for people with reduced mobility | 0 |
| User relations and other information | 4 |
| Failure to pay/inadequate payment of any refunds or compensation | 0 |
| Outside jurisdiction | 8 |
a) Average response times:
Average days to resolve a complaint in 2025: 2.37 days.
b) Related outcomes and measures adopted to overcome the main service disruptions that emerged:
Based on the analysis of the data collected and the experience gained, continuous improvement actions are defined and implemented to optimize complaint management and service quality. These actions include:
– Periodic review of complaint management procedures to simplify and speed up processes.
– Continuous training of dedicated staff, with a focus on communication and technical skills.
– Investment in automation technologies to improve the collection, analysis, and response to complaints.
– Strengthening of communication channels with users to promote greater transparency and involvement.
– Constant monitoring of performance indicators and user feedback to promptly identify new areas for action.
– Cross-functional collaboration to address the root causes of inefficiencies in an integrated manner.
c) the level of user satisfaction with the response received:
In relation to the response received, an item relating to customer “dissatisfaction” has been included in the “complaints management” system in use, in the event of dissatisfaction with the response received; the level of satisfaction in relation to individual responses is currently being implemented in the management system.
d) the number and total value of compensation payments, as referred to in Measure 12:
At present, our Company has not paid any compensation in relation to cases of this kind.