From a linear infrastructure to a logistic operational landscape: the BreBeMi Motorway in Bergamo plateau

Over the past decades, rural areas have experienced significant transformations driven by changing consumption patterns and lifestyles. These shifts have led to new urbaniza- tion forms, rendering the traditional urban-rural distinction less relevant. Among other dynamics, scholars in geography and urban studies pointed out the evolution of peri- urban spaces as “operational landscapes” (Brenner & Schmid, 2013, 2014). These areas are crucial in contemporary urban systems, because they are essential facilities, and they allow resource extraction, waste management, and logistics. Logistics, in particular, has undergone profound changes since the 1980s, spurred by industrial decentralization and globalization. These changes have redefined global pro- duction systems, reducing the importance of localized production in favour of globally connected logistics nodes (Tadini, 2013). This shift facilitates the global flow of goods (Cabodi, 2001) and has led to the clustering of logistics functions. Such clusters often create logistics landscapes. These landscapes can be classified into three types based on their proximity to production sites (first mile facilities), markets (last mile hubs), or global flow infrastructures (platforms). The expansion of logistics landscapes, particularly in suburban areas, has introduced large-scale facilities that integrate production and distribution based on transport conditions. However, this growth raises environmental concerns, including soil sealing and increased traffic pollution, resulting in significant landscape transformations. Therefore, this evolution is not just a multiplication of functional elements but an active agent of reshaping landscapes (Armondi et al., 2024) and with the research author would like to grounding this issue. This paper examines land-use transformations along motorway corridors resulting from enhanced accessibility. These transformations arise due to improved mobility and in creased land value when new linear infrastructures are established in rural areas. The analysis addresses three research questions: 1. Does the infrastructure contribute to the transformation of rural/agrarian spaces into accessible linear systems? 2. How do corridors evolve over time under new territorial pressures? 3. How the shaping of an operational landscape differs from a merely juxtaposition or sprawl of logistic functions? The study aims to increase awareness of the role and impact of logistics functions in urban studies, contributing to innovative approaches in territorial governance at local and regional levels. It seeks to move beyond traditional methods focused on traffic analysis and soil consumption, incorporating social and spatial dimensions into the evaluation of logistics. Recent researches (among others: Paris et al, 2024) suggests that logistics platforms can drive territorial transformation and development of fixed capital in periurban and rural areas. However, mitigating the negative effects of uncontrolled logistics expansion, such as sprawl, is essential to achieving these benefits. The research centers on the A35 BreBeMi motorway in the southern Province of Bergamo, Italy. This area, characterized by a rural, low-density plateau, has seen the development of several logistics platforms in recent years. After the inauguration in 2015, the area has become a hub for logistics, with multiple new facilities concentrated within 265 km². This growth aligns with increased attention to environmental and landscape concerns and shifts in urban planning paradigms toward sustainable land management.