The Paganella East Motorway Service Station is located off the northbound carriageway (km 129) near the municipality of Lavis (Trento) between the toll booths Trento Central and San Michele/Mezzocorona.
The underlying aspect of the Paganella East Motorway Service Station renovation project is the creation of a unique and harmonious architectural structure, the aims of which are to take all technical, functional and commercial points of view into account and to make travel on the motorway even more comfortable and convenient by addressing in particular the specific needs of its various users.
The Motorway Service Station Project plans three different areas of construction:
-
the erection of a service building with appropriate reception and service facilities for the various categories of user;
-
the construction of two buildings in pyramid form to serve as stand-out architectural elements and give the project a distinctive look;
-
the expansion and upgrading of the whole of the service station area.
The area designated for catering and toilet facilities will be completely revamped. The existing building will be demolished and a new building erected on a right-angled floor plan to accommodate the bar area, the restaurant, the toilets and associated sanitary facilities. The toilets and sanitary facilities will also feature disabled access and will be equipped with a nappy changing room.
The following individual services will be provided: information point, shop, bar, pizza counter, self-service area (divided into islands with surrounding counters for starters and main courses), table area (seating capacity of 110), food preparation niches, storerooms, cold rooms, changing rooms with showers/WC for men and women.
The office area of the service station operator is located in the extreme North-West of the building and includes changing rooms, toilet and sanitary facilities and a shop with a separate entrance.
The plan to upgrade the service station in architectural terms will be realised in the form of the erection of two distinctive stand-out buildings in pyramid form which will be connected to the service station building itself. These will be large constructions in glass and will provide the new entrance to the complex.
Services
Expansion and upgrading of the service station
Works are planned which will extend the service station to the South-East over a total area of approximately 45,500 m². Transport routes and the service station parking areas will undergo an extensive redesign. The objectives here are to enable better use of the premises and to provide a clear separation of traffic according to vehicle categories.
The individual aims are as follows:
- clear separation between the various categories of vehicle;
- creation of new parking areas by considerably increasing the number of spaces available.
- Erection of new buildings for specific user categories:
- lorry service building;
- service building for coaches and an Internet Point;
- protective roof for lorry checks
- equipping the petrol station with additional pumps;
- expansion and redesign of the grassed areas (with and without facilities).
Parking spaces
The 22 existing car parking spaces will remain essentially unchanged, and 53 new car parking spaces will be added.
A protective roof to accommodate approximately 90 motor cycles will also be constructed.
The plans include the establishment of 4 disabled parking spaces and 2 parking spaces for motorway police vehicles in front of the building.
10 parking spaces for coaches are planned for the area adjoining the grassed area in the centre of the service station. Part of this area will be without facilities, and other parts will feature a picnic area and a playground.
A dedicated area for campers will be constructed. This will include 17 parking spaces with drinking water supply and a sewage system. Sewage will be collected by the service station’s own internal facilities.
44 parking spaces for heavy goods vehicles measuring 20 by 3.50 metres will be constructed on the Eastern side. The plan is to include an inspection zone for lorries using the motorway in this area. Police controls will be conducted for the purpose of carrying out loading checks on lorries transporting hazardous or explosive materials.
The following new buildings are also planned:
- TIR service building;
- service building for coaches with an Internet Point;
- protective roof for lorry checks;
- a building to house technician facilities.
New pumps
The petrol station area will be expanded to the West of the existing building by constructing natural gas fuelling facilities for cars.
Once separation of transport routes into the various vehicle categories has taken place, 2 further petrol pumps will be added to the existing lorry fuelling facilities. These will also be available for use by coaches and campers, which will circulate around the rear of the building once redesign has taken place.
Grassed areas
The design and use of the grassed areas are viewed as an integrated project. The purpose of these areas is to serve as open space and as a connecting route to the sanitary and toilet facilities. They will also deliver added value in landscaping and ecological terms as well as protecting pedestrian areas and providing a delineation from the vehicle areas which generate noise and pollute the environment. The trees, bushes and seed used will be carefully selected, and account will be taken of resistance to harmful substances and prevailing air streams. Consideration will also be accorded to planting alignment, to encouraging autochthonous species and to the establishment of grassed areas which are durable and resistant when walked upon.
In general terms, the grassed areas will help users recover from the stresses and strains of motoring and will reduce the influence of harmful substances on the environment.
In the central area of the service station located to the South of the building, the intention is to establish a mixed grassed area (with and without facilities) to provide a space for motorway users to relax and to serve as a separating element between the lorry and coach parking spaces.
The adjoining area will feature a dedicated strip for pets and will provide water facilities for animals journeying with their owners.
In selecting such elements as rubbish bins, benches etc. care will be taken to achieve the best possible degree of harmony with the surrounding area and with the existing facilities at the service station.