| Author (Corporate) | Cardiff EDC (Compiler) |
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| Publication Date | August 2018 |
| Content Type | Overview |
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Summary: On 14 August 2018 the Morandi Bridge in Genoa Italy collapsed killing 43 people. The bridge was an important connection within Italy as well as between Italy and the French border. It was designed by engineer Riccardo Morandi and completed in 1967. The trademark of Morandi was to use reinforced concrete. Due to various reasons, as congestion and corrosion of the concrete and the steel frame, the bridge required regular maintenance. Further Information: Amidst the tragedy lies the question of how this could have happened and who is responsible. Italian prosecutors launched an investigating of the collapse of the bridge. The bridge operator Autostrada per l’Italia, and consequently Atlantia infrastructure group, which Autostrada per l’Italia is part of, was seen to be at fault for negligence. Within the Italian government this sparked a debate on privatization of infrastructure; hence, the need for nationalization of infrastructure. Shortly after the collapse, deputy Prime Minister of Italy and Minister of the Interior Matteo Salvini blamed the European Union (EU). He argued that its austerity measures prevented Italy from allocating enough funds to maintain its infrastructure. Spokesmen from the European Commission dismissed this claim by arguing that the EU encouraged investments in infrastructure and that the fiscal rules allow member states to determine their own policy regarding investments. On 25 September 2018, the Italian government published a report of the bridge operator Autostrade per l’Italia’s role in the collapse of the bridge. The government has blamed Autostrade per l’Italia for serious oversights and said it wants to revoke all its Italian motorway concessions. The special commissioner, that will oversee the reconstruction of the Morandi bridge, said the former bridge operator will not take part in rebuilding the bridge. |
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| Subject Categories | Mobility and Transport |
| Subject Tags | Transport Infrastructure |
| Keywords | Atlantia, Autrostrada per l'Italia |
| Countries / Regions | Italy |
