ROME: Italy is close to reaching an agreement over the future of Autostrade per l'Italia, the tollways unit of infrastructure group Atlantia, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Saturday.

Atlantia, controlled by the powerful Benetton family, agreed in July to pull out of Autostrade following the 2018 collapse of a motorway bridge run by the unit, in which 43 people died.

But progress has been slowed by difficulties in agreeing a valuation for the unit with state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), which is due to take control of Autostrade under the spin-off plan favoured by the government.

Speaking at an event organised by the Fatto Quotidiano newspaper, Conte said discussions were in the "final straight", without giving further details.