Italy has a long history of tunnel construction dating back to ancient civilizations. There are currently over 4,000 km of tunnels in Italy used for various purposes including railways, roads, and aqueducts. Safety is a major concern given incidents in the past. Regulations have evolved to improve safety aspects like ventilation, fire prevention, detection and response. Ongoing work includes upgrading existing tunnels and constructing new high-speed rail lines, while also addressing public concerns over environmental impacts.