In Rome, the needs of historic preservation and the general population clash once again

The New York Times has reported in “Road Through Roman History Creates Colossal Headache”, by Elisabetta Povoledo (August 1, 2013) that in one of his first major actions the new Mayor of Rome, Ignacio Marino is initiating a plan to ban private traffic from the via did Fore Imperial— the multilane highway, constructed in the 1920s by Mussolini, which bisects the ancient portion of the city that stretches from the Piazza Venezia to the Colosseum. Conservators and archaeology officials are happy as this move should cut down on damage to the monuments as it will dramatically reduce vibrations and smog in the area. City residents who own an average of 970 cars for every 1,000 adults are worried about increased traffic congestion on other roads and are planning protest rallies. In old cities like Rome which have numerous archaeological excavations and monuments, such clashes between differing needs and desires are unavoidable.