On Monday, June 22, Italy inaugurated the new bridge in Genoa, which was rebuilt in record time after the previous structure, known as “Ponte Morandi” (Morandi bridge), tragically collapsed on 14 August, 2018, leaving 43 people dead.
The new bridge, designed by internationally renowned architect Renzo Piano, was built in a record time, 22 months after the disaster, by the company Webuild, together with Fincantieri and Italferr. It counts 18 pillars and it is endowed with solar panels for energetic autonomy. It is 1,067 meters long and it rides across the neighborhoods of Sampierdarena and Cornigliano in the city of Genoa.
The first person to ride across the bridge in a car was Pietro Salini, CEO of the building company that carried out the infrastructure works. The final opening of the bridge is scheduled on July 27, 2020.
“To pass this bridge today is a unique sensation”, Salini said. “It tells about all of the effort and passion of these months, but it also says that major infrastructures in Italy can be built, and that it can happen in a short time”. The inauguration of the bridge brought together a number of institutional representatives, among which Genoa’s mayor Marco Bucci and Lega leader Matteo Salvini.
“From Genoa a new model spreads to all of Italy. It is a system that we will try to replicate, to begin again together. This is a light that gives hope to Italy as a whole”, said Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte when he visited the bridge at the end of April.
Now, before the bridge can be opened to the public, the government will need to settle the concession to operate it. While the appointed company should be Autostrade per l’Italia, who was managing the Morandi bridge at the time - provided that the concession contract was never revoked - the government could still opt for a different concessionaire, such as state-owned road company Anas. The collapse of the former bridge had sparked controversy on the company that was responsible for its maintenance.
“We have an urgency to know who is going to manage the bridge and is going to carry out the final tests. It is an obligation in order to open the bridge”, said city mayor Marco Bucci.
“If the government does not make a decision over this, we will have a new bridge with a great view over the sea and harbor, but nothing more”, said Lega leader Matteo Salvini.
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