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Remains of Genoa bridge to be demolished on Friday
GENOA, Italy, June 28, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The two remaining towers of the
motorway bridge in the Italian city Genoa that collapsed nearly a year go
killing 43 people are to be demolished on Friday to make way for a new
structure, authorities said.
The remains of the Morandi bridge are to be detonated at 9:00 am (0700
GMT), with nearly 4,000 local residents evacuated, the city authorities said.
Explosives have been attached to the legs of the towers and the parts of
the bridge still standing and experts estimated that the detonation of the
4,500-tonne concrete and metal structure would last six or seven seconds.
Water tanks have been placed around the towers to prevent the spread of
dust. Italy’s Deputy Prime Ministers Matteo Salvini and Luigi Di Maio are
expected to attend.
The dismantling of the remains of the bridge, which collapsed in bad
weather on August 14, 2018, started in February.
The disaster threw the spotlight on Italy’s creaking infrastructure.
Local residents expressed relief that the eyesore would finally be gone,
but were also concerned about the possible consequences of the detonation.
The bridge “is high, it is big, it is full of iron, it is super heavy… I
don’t know what will happen when it falls. Apart from the dust it will cause,
I am worried about the impact,” local resident Francesco Russo told AFP TV.
Following the demolition, officials are expected to welcome a ship that
will arrive in the city’s port transporting the first parts of a new bridge,
the construction of which is scheduled to begin next year.
The government has promised that the new steel and concrete motorway
bridge, designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, will be open for traffic
in April 2020.
BSS/AFP/RY/12:25 hrs