The Genova San Giorgio Bridge in Genoa, Italy, was constructed in under two years to replace the Morandi Bridge, which collapsed on Aug. 14, 2018, and killed 43 people. (Image courtesy of Riccardo Arata/Shutterstock.)
The 1960s saw significant growth for many industrialized countries. As automobiles started to become the norm, highway systems were needed to accommodate the increased traffic. Instead of having this traffic meander up mountains, Genoa, Italy, was designated as the location for a new, modern bridge that would bypass the city and cross the Polcevera River. Designed by Riccardo Morandi, the Morandi Bridge became a modern wonder that was plagued with issues that would eventually lead to a devastating collapse and the need for a quick rebuild.
A Problematic Infrastructure
As part of the A10 motorway, the Morandi Bridge was a necessary structure for the new highway network connecting districts across the Polcevera Valley and serving as an arterial roadway of European Route E80 for travel between Italy and France. A unique challenge for its design was that the bridge had to be constructed over an existing city.
Construction of the bridge began in 1963. Morandi based it on his design for the General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge in Venezuela. Completed in 1962, that bridge still stands but suffered collapsed parts from a tanker collision in 1964 and has shown signs of potential fractures. Morandi was known for his cable-stayed bridges, which were just…