ASECAP Days in Milan fast approaching

This year’s ASECAP Days in Milan – home of the world-famous La Scala Opera House – will tackle some of the tolling sector’s biggest challenges, now and in the future.

The international event from ASECAP – the Association Européenne des Concessionnaires d’Autoroutes et d’ouvrages à Péage (European Association of Operators of Toll Road Infrastructure) – promises a blend of thought-provoking discussions and practical solutions. Speakers and panel invitees will be from across the breadth of Europe, including Turkey and the UK as well as the US and Canada. Panel discussions and parallel session topics include ‘Sustainable development and environmental protection of road infrastructure’, ‘Digital twin-based maintenance and monitoring of infrastructure’ and ‘impact of electric vehicles’.

ASECAP’s members operate more than 81,000km of toll motorways, bridges and tunnels across Europe and many of their senior executives will be sharing their wealth of experience. They will come from Italy’s Autostrada del Brennero, Portugal’s Brisa Autostrada and France’s Egis Operation among others as well as from the business sector, including Valerann, Ecogest, Versilis, ViaPlus and Hatko Sound Barriers to name just a few. Sponsors and exhibitors include Kapsch, Emovis, ReBloc, Vitronic, A-to-Be, Movyon, Autopay, Etolls EU and Telepass.

The opening welcome address will be given by ASECAP president Julián Núñez, who is also president of Spain’s Association of Infrastructure Contractors and Concessionaires (SEOPAN). Speakers include Christof Mauerek, head of the enforcement centre with ASFINAG, Ilaria Napoli who is in charge of sustainability road construction and operational aspects of highway operator A35 Brebemi Aleatica, Bill Halkias, president of IBTTA (International Bridge, Tunneling and Turnpike Association) and Daniel Briedl, head of sales at global barrier specialist REBLOC.

Other session topics will cover how technology can improve traffic management, enforcement and – importantly – road safety. Attendees will hear about the latest thinking on future infrastructure design and management given the increase in electric vehicles. Another session will consider how the fast-evolving payment systems – among them mobile phone and automatic number plate recognition – are streamlining concession operations.

It all starts with welcome cocktails on Monday, May 13, in the conference venue, the Palazzo Mezzanotte – the Stock Exchange Palace – located in the city’s business square Piazza Affari.

On Tuesday, for the attendees’ guests, there is a guided tour of Milan that visits historical places including the San Maurizio church and the Milanese “Sistine Chapel”. A walk through the Duomo Square including a visit to the cathedral will be followed by a walk through the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. All this will be finished off with lunch at Caffè Fernanda Bistrot inside the Brera Museum.

In the evening, there will be a visit to the famous La Scala, one of the principal opera houses of the world. Built in 1776–78 by Empress Maria Theresa of Austria – whose country then ruled Milan – it replaced an earlier theatre that had burned down. The visit will be followed by cocktails and dinner at the Sforzesco Castle, a medieval fortification built in the 15th century on the remnants of a 14th-century edifice.

So, put Milan in your diary for May and attend ASECAP DAYS 2024. To register,click here.