Does anyone on the ground out there have any up to date actual info on the Autostrada.? (not speculation) I know that Lombardy is in some form of lockdown but does that also mean that all through traffic on what is effectively an isolated road network has been stopped.? I can't see how that would be possible.

I need to get down the length of the A22, then along a short stretch of the A1 to the A14 in a couple of weeks and I now hear that police and army check points are being set up at toll points along the way. A lot can also happen and change in two weeks and with the level of media driven hysteria and over reaction that's currently going on, it's entirely feasible to my mind that they'll all just go off the deep end and close the entire country down which would be utterly ludicrous (IMO). An earlier suggestion was made that I look into flight options but that isn't possible for me : I must drive.

All real information welcome as I'm in a quandary about going and I don't want to get so far on the road only to be turned back, but no speculation or panic mongering please. Thanks.

Here is the current motorway status. Real time traffic - Autostrade per l'Italia S.p.A.

Thanks Philat. All the Autostrade are appearing in solid pink when I look at them so I still don't understand what it's telling me as solid pink doesn't match up with any of the little coloured information boxes. I'll make the assumption that they're still open and have a look at google maps too.

You can enter your journey and it shows a list of problems. If you stick to the toll motorways I dont think there will be any difficulty driving to Puglia.

Looks as if all the roads are open on both the Autostrade site and on google maps. I don't know why I didn't think to look at either of these sites before as I've been checking google maps regularly for conditions in Germany over the past few weeks. Brain must be frazzled from all the frenzied media reporting I suppose. Doh..

Best wishes on your trip Jake, I lived in Puglia for 2 and a half years, loved it, I think you will feel safer down south anyway you look at it.

Thanks. Getting there is the biggest issue and entirely dependent on how governments of Netherlands,Germany,Austria and Italy react or overreact in the next 13 days. As long as the road networks aren't closed and through travel is allowed it shouldn't be a problem and I wont mind at all if I'm expected to self isolate when I get there as that's mostly how I live when I'm there anyway.. I'm updating my travel plan to carry some food rations with me now just in case..

Unless half of bloody red zone Lombardy turned up on last night's train.

Last night, checks were being made at the Padova motorway entrance to check whether you were entitled to travel or not. There was a long queue.

60million in lockdown now!

Unbelievable..

BBC have mentioned travel permits being checked by police
I would contact authorities to find out how to get one.

If you need to travel you can download at form from the gov website - the reasons are for work, health or necessity - which are all pretty wide reaching, but if the police decide you're having a larf you can get a fine and/or go to jail for 3 months.

Foreign Office is now advising against all travel to Italy.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy

Interesting the UK gov site was last updated 9thMar20, so they were quick off the mark. The worry is the "rules in place until" date 31st DEC20! Subject to change of course. Bit like Brexit I guess with half the people I hear saying they are in a panic and others that it is all OTT. I have to admit reading the Wiki on the 1918/19 flu, flu can be very bad. But, if they are telling the truth (another issue), things are looking up in China. Then again, they have also said they are planning for the next spike and it sounds like they expect it to be worse. I guess if I was booked to go anywhere I would be in a very different frame of mind, probably livid....