In Janov, the complete replacement of the collapsed highway bridge is already standing

Rome - Nearly two years after 43 people lost their lives in Genoa following the collapse of the Morandi Bridge, workers lifted the final part of the bridge structure, which is meant to replace the original building. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte refers to the event as a symbolic milestone that showcases the unity of Italians in times of crisis, including the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the AP agency.

To the sound of bells and ship sirens, a crane raised the central section of the bridge, which towers over now-abandoned homes and businesses along the Polcevera Riverbed. Although the structure is now complete, it will still take several months before it is put into final operation.

The ceremonial event was personally attended by Prime Minister Conte, who stated that the new bridge is a reflection of Italian ingenuity in the face of tragedy. According to the prime minister, it can serve as a model for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed over 27,000 lives in Italy, the second highest number of any country in the world.

The new structure stands on the same site as the original bridge, which was demolished after it collapsed in mid-August 2018. The original structure was built in the 1960s and became a significant transportation artery and a connector between Italy and France.

Architect Morandi, the author of the original design, warned ten years after the completion of the bridge that it would require regular maintenance due to the effects of salty sea air and exhaust from vehicles. The collapse of the structure, which at the time of the disaster had several dozen personal and cargo vehicles on it, was the deadliest of a series of similar incidents in Italy and highlighted the poor condition of Italy’s aging transportation infrastructure.

The designer of the new bridge is architect Renzo Piano, a native of Genoa. Construction continued despite the restrictions imposed by the government due to the coronavirus, which practically halted economic life in the country.