In Janov, a new highway bridge will be opened, replacing the collapsed one

Genoa – A new highway bridge will be ceremoniously opened this evening in northern Italy's Genoa, replacing the Morandi Bridge, a portion of which collapsed on August 14, 2018. The disaster claimed more than forty lives at that time. Among the attendees at today's ceremony will be Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte.

The new nearly one-kilometer-long structure made of concrete and steel will open for traffic on August 5. The bridge roadway spans the Polcevera River and part of the port city at a height of around 45 meters. Since the collapse of the old four-lane road, a portion of the important A10 highway has been closed.

When the old bridge collapsed, several passenger and commercial vehicles fell, resulting in the death of 43 people. Many local residents had to leave their apartments near the bridge.

The new construction, designed by the world-renowned architect and Genoa native Renzo Piano, is named after Saint George (San Giorgio), the patron of Genoa. Construction work continued vigorously even during the worst phase of the coronavirus pandemic, which claimed more than 35,000 lives in Italy.

According to the media, around 500 guests have been invited to today's ceremonial opening of the bridge, including politicians and church officials. However, many relatives of the victims have announced in advance that they will not attend the ceremony. They criticize the alleged sidelining of the memory of the dead.

The new structure stands in the same location as the Morandi Bridge, which was ultimately demolished. The original construction from the 1960s was an important transport artery and connection between Italy and France. Its structural collapse was the deadliest in a series of similar incidents in Italy and highlighted the poor state of Italy's aging transport infrastructure.

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