TUESDAY 14 AUGUST 2018 16.58.19
Genoa. The collapse of the Morandi Bridge on the Polcevera viaduct in Genoa was "for us something unexpected and unforeseen, given the monitoring activity that was being carried out on the bridge. Nothing suggested" that it could happen. Stefano Marigliani, director of the Genoa branch of Autostrade per l'Italia, stated this, emphasizing that "there was absolutely no reason to consider the bridge dangerous." "The bridge is a very complex structure from an engineering standpoint: hence the multitude of checks," but "nothing emerged that suggested" this.
"What happened is clear for all to see: a section of the bridge collapsed. It's really too early to say what the causes are. We'll need to investigate thoroughly, evaluating all hypotheses. Rescue teams are currently at work, and we're simply supporting them: we're managing all traffic issues to ensure traffic continues," explains Marigliani. Regarding the possibility that lightning struck the bridge, he added: "It's something we'll have to try to understand. Something happened." The Morandi Bridge, explained the director of the Genoa branch, "has undergone maintenance on several fronts": in particular, "work on the safety barriers," which began in 2016, was "nearly being completed." "This project is the subject of our constant attention and care," he emphasized. In particular, to verify the safety of the structure, Autostrade uses "advanced instruments" and "reflectometer tests" were carried out on the bridge to detect the condition inside the concrete: "From the latest ones, carried out at the beginning of 2017," said Marigliani, "nothing emerged."
