Morandi Bridge investigation continuing

The investigation into the collapse of the Morandi Bridge in the Italian city of Genoa is continuing. The failure of the bridge in August 2018 resulted in 43 fatalities. A central section of the structure collapsed and most of the deaths were of those crossing in vehicles at the time, although the deaths also included those hit by falling debris underneath. A number of engineers and managers with responsibilities relating to the bridge are now being investigated directly. The investigators are also looking
February 1, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

The investigation into the collapse of the Morandi Bridge in the Italian city of Genoa is continuing. The failure of the bridge in August 2018 resulted in 43 fatalities. A central section of the structure collapsed and most of the deaths were of those crossing in vehicles at the time, although the deaths also included those hit by falling debris underneath. A number of engineers and managers with responsibilities relating to the bridge are now being investigated directly. The investigators are also looking into whether proper checks were carried out on five other viaducts.

The contract for the design of the new bridge has already been awarded. However construction of the new bridge will be held back by the demolition of the existing structure. That this will be challenging is something of an understatement. Remove the stay cables, which carry heavy stresses, will pose particular issues. Demolition will have to be carried out without risking any more lives and without harming either the rail link or the existing residential and commercial buildings underneath. However the space underneath the bridge is limited, so bringing in the long reach demolition excavators and cranes needed will be difficult, as will removing sections of the structure. It will be an extremely specialised and difficult operation, potentially one of the most challenging demolition projects ever carried out anywhere.

Maintenance

Related Content

  • PPRS: the positive side of structural failures
    March 27, 2018
    You learn from your failures, not your successes. That was the overall message for delegates during the day-two morning session on the impact of engineering structural failures. These lessons are also too often “painful”, said Anne-Marie Leclerq, deputy minister for infrastructure within the ministry of transport for the Canadian province of Quebec. On September 30, 2006, a span of the six-lane Concorde Bridge in Laval, near Montreal, collapsed crushing to death five people and injuring six. Only recently
    Read More
  • Bridge collapse on key I-5 route in Washington State
    June 24, 2013
    The news that a key highway bridge has collapsed in the US comes as gloomy reading for all in the highway sector. When a section of the Interstate 5 Bridge over the Skagit River in Washington failed in May 2013, a number of vehicles were plunged into the river. Luckily no-one was killed in the incident on the route, which is one of the main links between the US and Canada, and the parallel bridge was able to carry traffic, albeit with delays for users.
    Read More
  • The Mersey Gateway bridge project continues on schedule
    October 18, 2016
    Work continues on the 2.3km Mersey Gateway signature bridge project close to Liverpool in the UK. David Arminas reports on some of the construction highlights. Under construction is a cable-stayed structure with three towers that will span the Mersey River’s expansive mud flats between the towns of Runcorn and Widnes near Liverpool. Including the approach viaducts on each side, it will be 2.3km long with a river span of 1km. The main bridge deck will be reinforced concrete. The 80m-high central tower will b
    Read More
  • Towers of power: California’s Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement
    May 8, 2019
    Challenging ground conditions meant a design rethink - and some engineering firsts - for California’s Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project* The Port of Long Beach on Terminal Island south of Los Angeles is the second-busiest container port in the US. It handles around 15% of all imported goods, much of it with Asia. As the Port of Long Beach was growing in importance over the past half century, the 51-year-old Gerald Desmond Bridge has faithfully been delivering thousands of daily commuters to wo
    Read More

Highlighted Content