The Morandi Bridge collapse in Genoa, which killed 43 people on August 14, 2018, has led to a legal battle against 57 defendants facing charges of negligent homicide and forgery. Prosecutors from Genoa allege that Autostrade per l’Italia (ASPI) and Spea prioritized shareholder dividends over critical infrastructure maintenance, ignoring known structural decay.
The Legal Stakes: 400 Years of Requested Prison Time
Genoa prosecutors have requested a combined total of nearly 400 years in prison for 56 of the 57 defendants. The heaviest individual sentence sought is 18 years and six months for Giovanni Castellucci, the former CEO of Autostrade per l’Italia.
Castellucci is already serving a six-year sentence following a separate 2013 viaduct collapse in Acqualonga, where 40 people died. The current charges include negligent homicide, forgery of documents, and the intentional omission of workplace safety measures.
Did you know? While Castellucci and nine other former managers reached a settlement with over 190 plaintiffs during the trial, their lawyers maintain these payments were an “act of helpfulness” and not an admission of guilt.
Structural Failure: Corrosion at the Ninth Pillar
Investigations revealed the collapse was caused by the snapping of supporting cables at the bridge’s ninth pillar. According to the prosecution, these cables suffered decades of damage due to a corrosive environment.
The prosecution argues that the collapse was predictable. They claim that officials knew about the damage long before August 2018 but failed to act to ensure higher dividends for shareholders. In contrast, the defense argues the failure resulted from a construction flaw in the pillar that was undetectable and could not have been prevented through routine maintenance.
From the Morandi Viaduct to Ponte San Giorgio
Opened in 1967, the Polcevera Viaduct—commonly called the Morandi Bridge—was a critical transit artery for the port of Genoa, the largest in Italy. At its peak, the bridge carried up to 1,000 trucks and thousands of passenger cars per hour, crossing over railway tracks and residential areas at a height of 40 meters.
The tragedy sparked a national crisis over Italy’s aging infrastructure, leading to the eventual nationalization of the operator, ASPI. The remains of the original structure were demolished and replaced by the Ponte San Giorgio, designed by architect Renzo Piano and inaugurated in August 2020.
Comparison: The Human and Material Cost
| Metric | Morandi Bridge (1967) | Ponte San Giorgio (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Riccardo Morandi (Stay-cable) | Renzo Piano |
| Outcome | Collapse; 43 fatalities | Active transit link |
| Operator | ASPI (Private/Later Nationalized) | State-managed infrastructure |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Morandi Bridge collapse?
According to investigators, the collapse was caused by the failure of supporting cables at the ninth pillar due to long-term corrosion.
Who is Giovanni Castellucci?
He is the former CEO of Autostrade per l’Italia. He faces charges of negligent homicide and forgery in the Genoa case and has previously been convicted for a separate bridge collapse in Acqualonga.
What happened to the bridge after the disaster?
The remaining sections of the Morandi Bridge were demolished, and the new Ponte San Giorgio was opened in August 2020.
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