Rimini is preparing for the arrival of Ecomondo and, with thousands of visitors expected, an extraordinary plan has been put in place to keep traffic from grinding to a halt.
From Tuesday, November 3 to Friday, November 6, the exhibition center will host the 29th edition of the international event dedicated to the environment, recycling and sustainable new technologies. Four days that will draw companies, professionals and industry operators, with inevitable repercussions on traffic flow.
To manage the influx, the municipality has worked together with Italian Exhibition Group to organize a plan that includes more than 80 local police officers on the streets every day, temporary closures and enhanced transport services.
In total, there will be more than 300 officer deployments across the three daily shifts during the event.
Officers will be stationed at the fairground entrances, the busiest intersections and the roads connecting to the city center and the seafront, working to ease congestion especially during peak hours. Particular attention will be paid to State Road 16, State Road 9 and the main routes leading to the exhibition halls.
From Tuesday to Friday, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., several roads around the fairground will also be closed to traffic, with the possibility of extensions depending on need.
The restrictions will affect via Turchetta, in the stretch from the side road behind number 93 toward the sea, via Togliatti from via Turchetta to the first intersection with via De Gasperi, all of via Imperatrice Teodora, and via Teodorico from the intersection with via Galla Placidia toward Ancona-inland. Residents, authorized vehicles, emergency services, public transport and school buses will still be able to pass through.
Barriers will be set up at access points, with stewards tasked with directing drivers toward official parking areas.
The roundabouts between via XXIII Settembre and viale Matteotti will also be under special watch, with temporary changes to traffic flow planned, including the removal of the roundabout at via Zavagli.
Enhanced monitoring will also be in place at the intersections with via Tonale, Toselli and Umago, along viale Principe Amedeo, at the Destra del Porto roundabout, the Chiara Lubich roundabout, and the intersection between State Road 9 and viale Italia.
Some pedestrian traffic lights, particularly those near the Decio Raggi and Dante Alighieri schools, will switch to flashing mode with the support of volunteers.
For those who want to avoid driving, Start Romagna is adding extra connections. A special shuttle on line 9 will run from the train station directly to the fairground, with no intermediate stops. The regular line 9 service, which connects the exhibition center with the station and the airport, will also remain active.
Three special free shuttles will run from the coast: line AB will serve Marina Centro, San Giuliano Mare and Rivabella; line CE will connect Bellaria, Igea Marina, Torre Pedrera, Viserbella, Viserba and Rivabella; while line D will depart from the Riccione area, passing through Miramare, Rivazzurra, Marebello and Bellariva.
The regular lines 5 and 10 will also be available. Those arriving from Riccione can take the Metromare to Rimini station and then continue on line 9.
Another option is to arrive directly by train at the RiminiFiera stop, about fifty meters from the south entrance, served during the event by regional trains, Intercity services and Frecce high-speed trains.
There will also be options for two-wheeled mobility, with promotions on shared bikes and scooters. Lime will offer a one-euro discount on unlocking with the code LIMEXFIERA, for up to two rides per day. BIT Mobility, meanwhile, will give new users 20 free minutes with the code ECOMONDOBIT2026.
Finally, Bike to Ecomondo returns — the challenge dedicated to employees of exhibiting companies who reach the fairground by bicycle. To take part, participants simply need to use the Wecity app, enter the code ECOMONDO26, and log their trips made during the four days of the event.
