Start of the process in Genoa: three seconds were missing to survive

In August 2018, the Ponte Morandi collapsed in Genoa, killing 43 people. The trial against 59 accused who are said to be responsible for the years of poor maintenance begins today.

Operation truth-telling on the collapse of the Morandi Bridge begins today in Genoa’s Palace of Justice. The president of the Genoese court, Enrico Ravera, says a process that Italy has never experienced logistically: “It is really unprecedented. We have never had such a process that could serve as a model for the organization of the process.”

59 accused, more than 200 lawyers, so far almost 180 witnesses, experts, journalists and up to 500 spectators. They are all distributed over three court columns, which are connected via video link. Judges and prosecutors sit in an unadorned, large, white marquee set up in the court’s courtyard. They should clarify the questions: How could the catastrophe happen, one of the largest in the history of the Republic of Italy? And above all: who are to blame? For Italy, the collapse of the Morandi Bridge is still a trauma.

Three seconds were missing to survive

The surveillance cameras of the A 10 Autobahn showed exactly 11:35 a.m. and 55 seconds on August 14, 2018 when the middle section of the bridge collapsed. The people driving on it didn’t stand a chance, they fell 90 meters with their cars and trucks. A nightmare. 43 women, men and children died – including Claudia Possetti, who was returning from vacation with her two children and her husband.

To survive, says Claudia’s sister Egle Possetti, they were only a few moments short:

Possetti is the founder and president of the Morandi Bridge Victims Remembrance Committee and will be present at the trial.

Expertise revealed maintenance deficiencies

On the other side of the dock is Giovanni Castellucci, the former boss of the autobahn company that was responsible at the time, Autostrade per l’Italia. Together with 29 other managers and employees of the company, but also employees from ministries and authorities who were responsible for controls or their organization.

A report commissioned for the trial assumes that years of lack of maintenance and inspection of the bridge led to the collapse. Relatives representative Possetti emphasizes that the process is not about personal revenge: “We want to do everything possible to bring the truth to light,” she says. “We’re doing it for our loved ones. But we’re also doing it out of citizenship. Because what happened to them could have happened to any other citizen.”

Because it was obviously only a matter of time before the busy but dilapidated motorway bridge would collapse. The day before, the dimensions of the accident would probably have been even greater. At the same time, several hundred cars were on the bridge due to a traffic jam.

Prestige project new bridge

In Genoa, Italy’s general handling of its bridge infrastructure sits indirectly in the dock. Even today, bridge expert Settimo Martinello explains, 60 to 70 percent of the bridges in the country are not regularly checked.

The search for those responsible for the collapse of the Morandi Bridge will take time. Probably by 2024, Judge Ravera told the Genoese television station Primocanale: “Due to the large number of people involved in the process, but also because of the complexity of the process. It will probably take one to two years.”

The construction of a new bridge to replace the collapsed Ponte Morandi was quicker than the criminal proceedings. The government in Rome had declared this a prestige project, as if they wanted the drama to be forgotten. In the summer of 2020, less than two years later, the new bridge was inaugurated. It was designed by Genoese star architect Renzo Piano. He promises that his bridge will last at least 1000 years.