European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 14, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Protecting Pompeii groups protest proposed Road construction Brose Rosuro new York times mount Vesuvius did such a Good Job of burying Pompeii in . 79 that Only now has anyone thought of doing it  time in is the leaders of modern Pompeii who intend to Lay a Highway Over a Parl of the doomed roman City a part that has newer been excavated. Citizens groups  1he officials in charge of protecting the archaeological site Are balding to Stop i he project but hey Are not entirely certain of Success. I am worried because i know i am  said tourists walk through mint of Pompeii Wilb mount Vesuvius in the background. Total Dassaro Conticello Iho Suprin Lendell of archaeology at Pompeii  a Veteran of 29 years in Italy s cultural bureaucracy i know irom experience that the moment of maximum danger is when All the rational arguments Are on your  a More Resolute vow to Block the plans came from Lulalia Nostra an organization that has waged successful protest campaigns on other environmental  cultural issues Antonio Larmella. Ifie group s National Secretary said recently if 1he project is carried Forward we will not give an Inch to will rally Alt Iho forces of Colluro in holy  around the world " the now Road would pass Over what appears to be an abandoned piece of land thai lies Between he archaeological Park  the outskirts of the modern town nothing islands Here now except a Small outdoor cafe. But below the ground encased in Vesuvius s lava lius Parl of Pompeii s necropolis. Far More irian a simple graveyard it is presumed to be a series of monuments that were Buill on either Side of a Road leading out of the City in the fashion of the App Ian Way m Rome the Prospect that the area might never to excavated is Only one  no necessarily the most important of the objections of Conticello  his colleagues at the ministry of culture. The planned Highway would be less than a mile Long  would just conned two other major roads. The idea is to draw heavy traffic out of the Coc Iier of modern Pompeii by creating a bypass for 1he Many trucks Hal ply Between the Vesuviano Hin Leiland  the coastal Plain Conticello said he had no argument with the idea of the Road  enthusiastically agreed that one was necessary. He insisted however that in should fallow a dil Terent route. At the moment the blueprints show the Load passing right next la the Fence that Maiks the boundaries of Trio archaeological Park according to con Ceilo. Aside from he aesthetic damage Conticello said Inis could present a physical threat to the ruins. No one questions Iho act Hal air pollution destroys ancient stones particularly Marble Conticello said  so you Are asking for trouble by bringing traffic so close to the  at one Point the Edge of the Road would to about three feel from Tho Walls of the ancient Amphitheater which is at the very Edge of the archaeological zone. The of Rulure is used for outdoor concerns in the summer bul Iho sounds of traffic passing so close might spelt the end of that program. Ii is belter not to mention the concerts at All Conticello said that is the kind of argument that would be sure to backfire. To can t place culture above the needs of the Ordinary  modern Pompeii is an impoverished place compared Wilh the sumptuous roman Boom town tha five Mifton tourists who visit a ruins every year rarely venture into modern Pompeii  so the ancient town brings negligible employment  income Tho Lown Council approved plans Lor the Road in August bul in is Only now beginning the process of seeking construction Money irom the government because in has none of its own. Conli Colto  his ministry Flavo presented heir of options to the appropriate officials in Rome bul he Sard he believed Shaf Trie Besl argument against financing the project was thai it would nol really relieve the traffic problem in modern Pompey. The vehicles would have to Cross most of the modern Lown to get to the bypass preparing Lor More bureaucratic warfare. Conticello said it is Nice to have reason on your Side but it is no  controversy surround the plan to build a Highway Over part of tour Nauroth ancient Pompeii. Saturday february 14, 1987 the stars  stripes Page 17