Collapse of Morandi motorway bridge

Built between 1963 and 1967 using pre-stressed reinforced concrete technology, the operator of the Morandi bridge in Genoa was about to launch a €20 million maintenance programme


Pier nine
189-metre section collapsed Aug 15

Pier cables
Dynamic loads of 25 million vehicles per year may have led to failure of bridge’s pier cables

Bridge tendons: 92-metre precast concrete sections between piers connected by tendons – corrosion of tendons may be contributory factor

Foundations
Around 55 metres deep. Investigation will focus on quality of materials.
In 1960s, concrete industry was run by organised crime

Piers
90m high

Polcevera River
45m


Genoa
Rome
ITALY
Naples
Sicily
160km 100 miles

2km 1.2 miles
Bridge
Genoa
Ligurian Sea


Source: Dave Parker, Emeritus Technical Editor, New Civil Engineer
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