Road travellers on Italy’s main north–south artery encountered significant delays early this evening after a heavy-goods vehicle caught fire between Santa Maria Capua Vetere and Caianello (km 717) on the A1 Autostrada del Sole. Autostrade per l’Italia reported that traffic toward Rome was reduced to a single lane, creating a 4 km tailback from 18:45. Fire-fighters extinguished the blaze within 30 minutes; no injuries were reported, but the incident coincided with the Monday return flow from coastal resorts in Campania and Lazio. The congestion spilled onto the SS7 Appia as drivers sought alternative routes. By 20:10, queues had shortened to 1.5 km, but full normality is expected only later tonight after debris removal and barrier inspection. For corporate fleets and shuttle operators serving Caserta’s manufacturing parks, diversions via the A30 (Caserta – Salerno) or exit at Capua are advised. Autostrade per l’Italia is broadcasting updates on RTL 102.5 and Isoradio, and via its smartphone app. The event underscores the importance of real-time telematics for companies managing road assignments during Italy’s summer traffic peaks.
