Editing Transport in Italy (section)

== Roads ==
{{main article|Roads in Italy}}
[[File:Rete autostradale italiana con superstrade.svg|thumb|Network of [[motorways]] (in green) and [[Limited-access road|expressways]] (in blue) longer than {{convert|30|km|abbr=on}} in Italy]]
[[Roads in Italy]] are an important mode of transport in Italy. The classification of the roads of [[Italy]] is regulated by the Italian [[traffic code]], both from a technical and administrative point of view. The street nomenclature largely reflects the administrative classification. Italy's paved road network is well developed.

Italy is one of the countries with the most vehicles per capita, with 690 per 1000 people in 2010.<ref name=Wards11>{{cite news|url=http://wardsauto.com/ar/world_vehicle_population_110815/|title=World Vehicle Population Tops 1 Billion Units|author=John Sousanis|work=[[Ward's|Ward AutoWorld]]|date=15 August 2011|access-date=27 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827104934/http://wardsauto.com/ar/world_vehicle_population_110815/|archive-date=27 August 2011}}</ref><ref>See also: [[List of countries by vehicles per capita]]</ref>  Italy has a total of {{convert|487700|km|abbr=on}} of paved roads, of which {{convert|7016|km|abbr=on}} are [[motorway]]s with a general speed limit of {{convert|130|km/h|abbr=on}}, which since 2009 was provisioned for extension up to {{convert|150|km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref>Art. 142 Traffic Regulation</ref> The speed limit in towns is usually {{convert|50|km/h|abbr=on}} and less commonly {{convert|30|km/h|abbr=on}}.

===Technical classification===
====Motorways====
{{main|Autostrade of Italy}}
[[File:Autostrada del Sole - Italy - panoramio.jpg|thumb|[[Autostrada A1 (Italy)|Autostrada A1]] runs through [[Italy]] linking some of the [[List of cities in Italy|largest cities of the country]]: [[Milan]], [[Bologna]], [[Florence]], [[Rome]] and [[Naples]].]]
[[File:Autostrada A20 Torregrotta.jpg|thumb|[[Autostrada A20 (Italy)|Autostrada A20]] runs through the island of [[Sicily]] linking [[Palermo]] to [[Messina]].]]

Italy was the first country in the world to build [[motorway]]s, the so-called ''[[Autostrade of Italy|autostrade]]'', reserved for fast traffic and for motor vehicles only.<ref name=independent/><ref name="motorwebmuseum"/> The ''[[Autostrada dei Laghi]]''  ("Lakes Motorway"), the first built in the world, connecting [[Milan]] to [[Lake Como]] and [[Lake Maggiore]], and now parts of the [[Autostrada A8 (Italy)|Autostrada A8]] and the [[Autostrada A9 (Italy)|Autostrada A9]], was devised by [[Piero Puricelli]] and was inaugurated in 1924.<ref name="motorwebmuseum"/>

Other motorways (or ''autostrade'') built before [[World War II]] in [[Italy]] were [[Naples]]-[[Pompeii]], [[Florence]]-[[Pisa]], [[Padua]]-[[Venice]], [[Milan]]-[[Turin]], Milan-[[Bergamo]]-[[Brescia]] and [[Rome]]-[[Ostia (quarter of Rome)|Ostia]]. The total length of the [[Autostrade of Italy|Italian motorway system]] is about {{convert|7016|km|abbr=on}}, as of 30 July 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aggiornamenti sull'evoluzione del regolamento europeo (AFIR) per la modifica della direttiva europea in materia di combustibili alternativi (DAFI) |trans-title=Updates on the evolution of the European regulation (AFIR) for the amendment of the European directive on alternative fuels (DAFI) |publisher=AISCAT |language=it |url=https://www.aiscat.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/AISCAT-1_2_2022-Edizione-Trimestrale.pdf |access-date=14 March 2024 |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728051041/https://www.aiscat.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/AISCAT-1_2_2022-Edizione-Trimestrale.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> To these data are added 13 motorway [[spur route]]s, which extend for {{convert|355|km|abbr=on}}.<ref name="LE AUTOSTRADE">{{Cite web |url=https://www.stradeanas.it/it/le-strade/la-rete-anas/le-autostrade |title=LE AUTOSTRADE |access-date=14 March 2024 |archive-date=14 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114204559/https://www.stradeanas.it/it/le-strade/la-rete-anas/le-autostrade |url-status=live }}</ref> The density is {{convert|22.4|km|abbr=on}} of motorway for every {{convert|1000|km2}} of Italian territory.<ref name="Le strade dell'informazione">{{cite web|url=http://www.lestradedellinformazione.it/acm-on-line/Home/PrimoPiano/articolo4795.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804095215/http://www.lestradedellinformazione.it/acm-on-line/Home/PrimoPiano/articolo4795.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 August 2012|title=Le strade dell'informazione|access-date=3 March 2024}}</ref>

Italy was the first country in the world to build [[motorway]]s, the so-called ''[[Autostrade of Italy|autostrade]]'', reserved for fast traffic and for motor vehicles only.<ref name="independent"/><ref name="motorwebmuseum"/> The ''[[Autostrada dei Laghi]]''  ("Lakes Motorway"), the first built in the world, connecting [[Milan]] to [[Lake Como]] and [[Lake Maggiore]], and now parts of the [[Autostrada A8 (Italy)|Autostrada A8]] and the [[Autostrada A9 (Italy)|Autostrada A9]], was devised by [[Piero Puricelli]] and was inaugurated in 1924.<ref name="motorwebmuseum"/>

Other motorways (or ''autostrade'') built before [[World War II]] in [[Italy]] were [[Naples]]-[[Pompeii]], [[Florence]]-[[Pisa]], [[Padua]]-[[Venice]], [[Milan]]-[[Turin]], Milan-[[Bergamo]]-[[Brescia]] and [[Rome]]-[[Ostia (quarter of Rome)|Ostia]]. The total length of the [[Autostrade of Italy|Italian motorway system]] is about {{convert|7016|km|abbr=on}}, as of 30 July 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aggiornamenti sull'evoluzione del regolamento europeo (AFIR) per la modifica della direttiva europea in materia di combustibili alternativi (DAFI) |trans-title=Updates on the evolution of the European regulation (AFIR) for the amendment of the European directive on alternative fuels (DAFI) |publisher=AISCAT |language=it |url=https://www.aiscat.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/AISCAT-1_2_2022-Edizione-Trimestrale.pdf |access-date=14 March 2024 |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728051041/https://www.aiscat.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/AISCAT-1_2_2022-Edizione-Trimestrale.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> To these data are added 13 motorway [[spur route]]s, which extend for {{convert|355|km|abbr=on}}.<ref name="LE AUTOSTRADE"/> The density is {{convert|22.4|km|abbr=on}} of motorway for every {{convert|1000|km2}} of Italian territory.<ref name="Le strade dell'informazione"/>

In particular, {{convert|1870.2|km|abbr=on}} of the Italian motorway network have three lanes per carriageway, {{convert|129|km|abbr=on}} km have four lanes per carriageway, {{convert|1.8|km|abbr=on}} have five lanes per carriageway, while the remaining part is two lanes per carriageway.<ref name="aiscat2">{{Cite web |url=http://aiscat.it/pubblicazioni/downloads/trim_3-4_2017.pdf |title=L'EVOLUZIONE DEL PEDAGGIO E DEI MECCANISMI DI ESAZIONE |access-date=23 October 2018 |archive-date=23 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023161908/http://aiscat.it/pubblicazioni/downloads/trim_3-4_2017.pdf |language=it}}</ref> The density is {{convert|22.4|km|abbr=on}} of motorway for every {{convert|1000|km2|abbr=on}} of Italian territory.<ref name="estradedellinformazione">{{Cite web|url=http://www.lestradedellinformazione.it/acm-on-line/Home/PrimoPiano/articolo4795.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804095215/http://www.lestradedellinformazione.it/acm-on-line/Home/PrimoPiano/articolo4795.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 August 2012|title=Le strade dell'informazione|access-date=5 March 2024|language=it}}</ref>

Italian motorways (or ''autostrade'') are mostly managed by concessionaire companies. From 1 October 2012 the granting body is the [[Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (Italy)|Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport]] and no longer [[Anas (company)|Anas]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stradeanas.it/index.php?/content/index/arg/convenzioni_societa|title=nas S.p.A. - Le società concessionarie|access-date=3 March 2024|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402100935/http://www.stradeanas.it/index.php?/content/index/arg/convenzioni_societa|url-status=live}}</ref> and the majority ({{convert|5773.4|km|abbr=on}} in 2009<ref name=luz>{{cite web|url=http://www.stradeanas.it/index.php?/news/download/file/1617|title=Ispettorato Vigilanza Concessioni Autostradali - Attività ed obiettivi|access-date=3 March 2024|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062414/http://www.stradeanas.it/index.php?/news/download/file/1617|url-status=live}}</ref>) are subject to [[Toll (fee)|toll]] payments. On Italian motorways, the [[Toll (fee)|toll]] applies to almost all motorways not managed by [[Anas (company)|Anas]]. The collection of motorway tolls, from a tariff point of view, is managed mainly in two ways: either through the "closed motorway system" (km travelled) or through the "open motorway system" (flat-rate toll).<ref name="autostrade.it">[http://www.autostrade.it/il-pedaggio/come-si-calcola.html?initPosAra=4_1 Come si calcola il pedaggio - Autostrade per l'Italia S.p.A] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100406014722/http://www.autostrade.it/il-pedaggio/come-si-calcola.html?initPosAra=4_1 |date=6 April 2010 }}</ref>

Italy's motorways (or ''autostrade'') have a standard speed limit of {{cvt|130|km/h|mph|round=5}} for cars. Limits for other vehicles (or when visibility is poor due to weather) are lower. Legal provisions allow operators to set the limit to {{cvt|150|km/h|mph|round=5}} on their concessions on a voluntary basis if there are three lanes in each direction and a working [[SPECS (speed camera)|SICVE]], or Safety Tutor, which is a speed-camera system that measures the average speed over a given distance.

====Extra-urban roads====
[[File:Via_aurelia_presso_livorno_02.JPG|thumb|The stretch from [[Grosseto]] to [[Livorno]] of the [[Strada statale 1 Via Aurelia]] is classified as ''[[strada extraurbana principale]]''.]]

In Italy, a [[dual carriageway]] is often called ''superstrada'' (meaning ''expressway''), but this name is unofficial. Italian [[traffic code]] (''Codice della strada'') divides extra-urban dual carriageways into two different classifications:<ref name="aci">{{cite web |url= http://www.aci.it/index.php?id=460 |title= Codice della strada della Repubblica Italiana |trans-title= Italian Highway Code |author= Automobile Club Italia |access-date= 1 February 2010 |language= it |archive-date= 16 July 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110716191150/http://www.aci.it/index.php?id=460 |url-status= live }}</ref>
* ''[[strada extraurbana principale]]'' (meaning ''main highway'') or ''type-B road'': a road with separate carriageways, at least two lanes for each direction, paved shoulder on the right and no cross-traffic. This type of road is quite similar to an ''[[autostrada]]'' or ''type-A road'' (Italian official name for [[motorway]]s or [[freeway]]s), but its building standards are lower. Access limitations and drive behaviour on type-B roads are the same as the motorways (no pedestrians, bicycles and other slow vehicles), as well as the signage (except for the background color, that is blue instead of green). Speed limits on type-B roads are up to {{cvt|110|km/h|mph|round=5}}. Type-B roads are always toll-free.
* ''strada extraurbana secondaria'' (meaning ''secondary road'') or ''type-C road''. This category contains all the roads in non-urban context that are neither ''autostrada'' (type A) nor ''strada extraurbana principale'' (type B). This means that a dual carriageway that may not be classified as type-B road, since it does not meet such quality standards, belongs to this category. For type-C roads, there are neither special signage nor access restrictions, unless a specific sign is placed. The speed limit is {{cvt|90|km/h|mph|round=5}}, on both single and dual carriageways.

====Urban roads====
[[File:Rom 2011-08-by-RaBoe-13.jpg|thumb|[[Via Cristoforo Colombo]] at [[Porta Ardeatina]] in [[Rome]], classified as ''strada urbana di scorrimento'']]

These are the roads present within inhabited centers. Urban roads are of three types:<ref name="aci"/>
* ''strada urbana di scorrimento'' (meaning ''urban expressway'') or ''type-D road'': a road in urban context, with separate carriageways, and at least two lanes for each direction. At-level junctions with smaller roads, regulated by traffic lights, are allowed as well as [[roundabout]]s. Unless a prohibition sign is placed, there are not access restrictions. Speed limits on this type of road are up to {{cvt|70|km/h|mph|round=5}}.
* ''strada urbana di quartiere'' (meaning ''urban neighborhood road'') or ''type E road'': single carriageway road with at least two lanes, paved shoulders and sidewalks; for parking there are areas equipped with a special maneuvering lane, outside the roadway;
** ''strada urbana ciclabile'' (meaning ''urban cycle road'') or ''type E-bis road'': urban road with a single carriageway, with paved shoulders and sidewalks, with a speed limit of no more than 30&nbsp;km/h, defined by specific vertical and horizontal signs, with priority for bicycles.
* ''strada locale'' (meaning ''local road'') or ''type F road'': urban or extra-urban road not belonging to the other types of roads;
** ''strada vicinale'': is a privately owned road of local interest located outside the town centre. In Italy the local road is a de facto communication route built to access a series of plots of land, or generally to connect to a road.
** ''itinerario ciclopedonale''  (meaning ''cycle/pedestrian itinerary'') or ''type F-bis road'': local, urban, extra-urban or local road, mainly intended for pedestrian and cycle travel, and characterized by intrinsic safety to protect vulnerable road users.

===Administrative classification===
====State roads====
{{main|State highways (Italy)}}
[[File:Soraga 001.JPG|thumb|[[Strada statale 48 delle Dolomiti]]]]
[[File:Amalfitana 13.jpg|thumb|[[Strada statale 163 Amalfitana]]]]

The [[State highways (Italy)|Strade Statali]] ({{IPA|it|ˈstraːde staˈtaːli|lang}}; {{singular}} {{lang|it|Strada Statale}} {{IPA|it|ˈstraːda staˈtaːle|}}), abbreviated "SS", is the [[Italy|Italian]] national network of [[state highway]]s. The total length for this network is about {{convert|25000|km|abbr=on}}.<ref name="stradeanas.it">{{cite web|url=http://www.stradeanas.it/index.php?/strade/consistenza/index|title=Anas S.p.A. - Consistenza|access-date=19 March 2024|language=it|archive-date=19 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719085042/http://www.stradeanas.it/index.php?%2Fstrade%2Fconsistenza%2Findex|url-status=live}}</ref> The Italian state highway network are maintained by [[ANAS]]. From 1928 until 1946 state highways were maintained by Azienda Autonoma Statale della Strada (AASS). The routes of some state highways derive from ancient [[Roman roads]], such as the [[Strada statale 7 Via Appia]], which broadly follows the route of the [[Appian Way|Roman road of the same name]].

State highways can be technically defined as main extra-urban roads (type B road) or as secondary extra-urban roads (type C road). State highways that cross towns with a population of at least 10,000 inhabitants are urban roads (type D and E) under the jurisdiction of the relevant ''[[comuni]]''. The state highway that cross towns or villages with a population of less than 10,000 inhabitants are urban roads (type D and E) under the jurisdiction of the ''comune'', subject to authorization from [[ANAS]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.normattiva.it/atto/caricaDettaglioAtto?atto.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=1992-05-18&atto.codiceRedazionale=092G0306&currentPage=1|title=Art. 26, comma 3, d. lgs. 385/92, Nuovo Codice della Strada|access-date=19 March 2024|language=it|archive-date=1 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001153421/https://www.normattiva.it/atto/caricaDettaglioAtto?atto.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=1992-05-18&atto.codiceRedazionale=092G0306&currentPage=1|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Italian state highway network has approximately {{convert|25000|km|abbr=on}} of roads identified with the acronym SS.<ref name="stradeanas.it"/> The body that manages these roads, with full state participation, is [[ANAS]] (National Autonomous Roads Company), founded in 1946, on the ashes of the old AASS (Autonomous State Roads Company) which in turn was established in 1928. Due to urbanization processes, it has abandoned some sections of state highways, following their acquisition by the interested ''[[comuni]]'', who now take care of their maintenance.

====Regional roads====
{{main|Regional road (Italy)}}
[[File:SR 351 Friûl.jpg|thumb|Regional road number 351 (SR 351) in [[Friuli-Venezia Giulia]]]]
[[File:DRONE - Il piave dall'alto - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Regional road number 53 (SR 53) in [[Veneto]]]]

A [[Regional road (Italy)|Strada Regionale]] ([[Italian language|Italian]] for "regional road"; {{Plural abbr}} "strade regionali"), abbreviated SR, is a type of [[Italy|Italian]] [[road]] maintained by the [[regions of Italy|regions]] they traverse. A regional road is less important than a [[state highway (Italy)|state highway]], but more important than a [[Provincial road (Italy)|provincial road]]. The concept of regional road was introduced for the first time in Italy, limited to the autonomous region of [[Aosta Valley]] (where no provincial body exists), with regional law no. 1 of 10 October 1950.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.consiglio.regione.vda.it/banche_dati/leggi_regolamenti/dettaglio_i.asp?pk_lr=273&versione=S|title=Consiglio Regionale della Valle d'Aosta - Legge regionale 10 ottobre 1950, n. 1 - Testo storico|access-date=23 March 2024|language=it}}</ref>

The first roads (excluding Aosta Valley) classified as SR (acronym for ''strada regionale''; "regional road") were created following legislative decree no. 112 of 1998, in 2001. In particular, articles 99 and 101 provided for the transfer of ownership and responsibilities relating to [[State highways (Italy)|state highways]] not included in the national road network from the State to the regions, which then regulated the matter autonomously. For organizational reasons, many regions have entrusted the former state highways to the [[Provinces of Italy|provinces]], while maintaining the acronym SR.

In addition to these regional roads created following the downgrading of the state network, there are regional roads immediately classified as such (for example SR 6 in [[Apulia]] although subsequently downgraded to provincial) or former provincial regional roads such as SR 89, ex SP 62, in [[Veneto]].

The regional roads can be technically classified as ''[[strade extraurbane principali]]'' (type B road; "main extra-urban roads") or as ''strade extraurbane secondarie'' (type C road; "secondary extra-urban roads"). If they cross inhabited centers with a population greater than 9,999 inhabitants, they are roads under municipal jurisdiction and therefore urban (type D and E). If they pass through centers or inhabited areas with a population of less than 9,999 inhabitants, they are urban (type D and E), but the responsibility remains with the manager.

In addition to the roads identified by the acronym SR, there are roads managed by the region but identified by the acronym SP (for example, many SPs in the [[province of Belluno]] are managed by the Veneto Strade company with a 30% stake in the region of the same name).

====Provincial roads====
{{main|Provincial road (Italy)}}
[[File:SP23 Italia Strada Provinciale 23 principessa 2.jpg|thumb|Provincial road number 23 (SP 23) in the [[province of Livorno]] ([[Tuscany]] region)]]

A [[Provincial road (Italy)|Strada Provinciale]] ([[Italian language|Italian]] for "provincial road"; {{Plural abbr}} "strade provinciali"), abbreviated SP, is an Italian road that is maintained by [[provinces of Italy|province]]s or [[Metropolitan cities of Italy|metropolitan cities]]. In [[Veneto]] from 2002, [[state highway (Italy)|state highways]] downgraded as provincial roads are maintained by the regional company [[Veneto Strade]]. A provincial road is less important than a [[regional road (Italy)|regional road]], but more important than [[Strada Comunale|municipal roads]].

Before the entry into force of the new Italian [[traffic code]] (legislative decree n° 285 of 30 April 1992) the provincial classification of a road had to take place by decree of the [[Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (Italy)|Minister of Public Works]]; over the years, this has made the same procedures too centralized and therefore slower and more difficult, until the new Italian traffic code assigned the competence on classification to the [[Regions of Italy|regions]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aci.it/index.php?id=460|title=Automobile Club d'Italia: art. 2. Definizione e classificazione delle strade|access-date=23 March 2024|language=it|archive-date=21 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921191821/https://www.aci.it/index.php?id=460|url-status=live}}</ref> ([[Veneto]], however, has further devolved the competences of classification and declassification to the provinces themselves).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.consiglioveneto.it/crvportal/leggi/2001/01lr0011.html|title=Articolo 94 della legge regionale 13 aprile 2001, n. 11 (BUR n. 35/2001)|access-date=23 March 2024|language=it|archive-date=20 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220012755/http://www.consiglioveneto.it/crvportal/leggi/2001/01lr0011.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Municipal roads====
{{main|Municipal road (Italy)}}
[[File:Corso Buenos Aires in Milan.jpg|thumb|[[Corso Buenos Aires]] in [[Milan]], an urban municipal road]]

A [[Municipal road (Italy)|Strada Comunale]] ([[Italian language|Italian]] for "municipal road"; {{Plural abbr}} "strade comunali"), abbreviated SC, is an Italian road that is maintained by ''[[comune]]'', hence the name. They can be roads owned by ''comune'' (inside population centers) or roads managed by the ''comune'' (outside population centers). The category of strade comunali includes extra-urban roads considered to be of municipal importance, all urban roads as well as the urban sections of [[State highways (Italy)|state]], [[Regional road (Italy)|regional]] or [[Provincial road (Italy)|provincial]] roads, which pass through centers with 10,000 or more inhabitants. The urban sections of state, regional or provincial roads that pass through towns with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants are not municipal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aci.it/i-servizi/normative/codice-della-strada/titolo-i-disposizioni-generali/art-2-definizione-e-classificazione-delle-strade.html|title=Definizione e classificazione delle strade.|access-date=25 March 2024|language=it|archive-date=27 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227151738/https://www.aci.it/i-servizi/normative/codice-della-strada/titolo-i-disposizioni-generali/art-2-definizione-e-classificazione-delle-strade.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Strade comunali within inhabited centers can be classified from a construction-technical point of view either as urban roads (type D and E) or as local roads (type F). Extra-urban municipal roads (outside inhabited centers) can be technically classified as ''[[strade extraurbane principali]]'' (type B; "main extra-urban roads"), ''strade extraurbane secondarie'' (type C; "secondary extra-urban roads"), ''strade urbane di scorrimento'' (type D; "urban traffic roads") or ''strada locale'' (type F; local roads).<ref name="aci"/>

===Other classifications===
These classifications are not provided for by the Italian [[traffic code]].

====Major communication road====
[[File:SGC FI-PI-LI 15.JPG|thumb|''Strada di grande comunicazione'' [[Florence]]-[[Pisa]]-[[Livorno]]]]

In Italy, some roads of national importance are called ''strada di grande comunicazione'' (abbreviated to SGC; "major communication roads"), an expression coined by the [[Touring Club Italiano]] and used in its maps and publications since the 1920s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stradeanas.it/index.php?/news/download/file/491|title=CRONOLOGIA DEGLI 80 ANNI DELL'ANAS|access-date=29 March 2024|language=it|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303171759/http://www.stradeanas.it/index.php?%2Fnews%2Fdownload%2Ffile%2F491|url-status=live}}</ref>

Law no. 126 of 12 February 1958, as amended by law no. 167 of 9 April 1971, classified state roads either as major trunk roads or as ordinary state roads.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.periti.info/legge/280.html|title=Modifiche ed integrazioni alle leggi 12 febbraio 1958, n. 126, 7 febbraio 1961, n. 59, e 21 aprile 1962, n. 181, concernenti l'Azienda nazionale autonoma delle strade e la viabilità comunale e provinciale.|date=24 April 1971|access-date=1 June 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911064254/http://www.periti.info/legge/280.html|archive-date=11 September 2012|language=it}}</ref>

For law n. 531 of 12 August 1982 (GU no. 223 of 14/08/1982), the main roads were classified as motorways, Alpine tunnels, motorway junctions, and roads that connect the main road network with the neighboring states, roads that constitute the major routes of national traffic (including Sicily and Sardinia), roads that constitute the main inter-regional connections and roads connecting to the first category ports and the most important airports.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.italgiure.giustizia.it/nir/lexs/1982/lexs_283228.html|title=Legge n°531 del 12 agosto 1982|access-date=29 March 2024|language=it}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}</ref>

The acronym SGC is not used to identify other types of roads (as is the case with the acronyms A, SS, SR, SP) but is used in address documents.

====Superstrada====
[[File:Serrenti - SS131 Carlo Felice.jpg|thumb|The ''superstrada'' [[Cagliari]]-[[Porto Torres]] ([[Strada statale 131 Carlo Felice]]), the main road artery of [[Sardinia]]]]

A ''superstrada'' ("super road") is a fast road, often with separate carriageways in each direction, reserved for the circulation of motor vehicles and without at-grade intersections and urban crossings. The colloquial classification of ''superstrada'' refers to all roads classified ''technically'' as main extra-urban roads and, in general, to secondary two-lane extra-urban roads.

===European classification===
[[File:A22 Autostrada - Brenner Pass from Verona to Bolzano (5994736833).jpg|thumb|[[Autostrada A22 (Italy)|Autostrada A22]] (part of the [[European route E45]])]]

Some Italian roads, if they are part of the [[International E-road network]], are also identified by another alphanumeric abbreviation. This acronym is made up of the letter "E" and one or two digits. The symbol used is a rectangle with a green background with the acronym in white. This classification, which evaluates the importance (being neither a technical nor an administrative classification) of the road in the [[European Union]], complements the usual Italian ones. European road acronyms are mostly absent or reported inorganically on signs in Italy. The European classification is foreseen by the Italian traffic code which defines it as additional.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gazzette.comune.jesi.an.it/2000/215/2.htm|title=Aggiornamento rete europea in Italia con tutte le leggi relative|language=it|access-date=29 March 2024|archive-date=21 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121134556/http://gazzette.comune.jesi.an.it/2000/215/2.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Toll roads===
In Italy the only [[toll road]]s are the ''[[autostrada|autostrade]]'' (Italian for [[motorways]]). Major exceptions are the beltways around some larger cities (''tangenziali'') which are not part of a thoroughfare motorway, and the section of the A3 motorway between [[Salerno]] and [[Reggio di Calabria]] which is operated by the government-owned [[ANAS]]. Both are [[Toll (fee)|toll]] free.

On Italian motorways, the toll applies to almost all motorways not managed by [[Anas (company)|Anas]]. The collection of motorway tolls, from a tariff point of view, is managed mainly in two ways: either through the "closed motorway system" (km travelled) or through the "open motorway system" (flat-rate toll).<ref name="autostrade.it"/>