Nearly seven years after the Genoa Morandi Bridge collapse, an Italian court has sentenced several former motorway executives and public officials over the disaster that killed 43 people in 2018.
The verdict represents a major legal development in one of Italy’s most closely watched infrastructure cases. The collapse exposed serious questions about bridge maintenance, regulatory oversight and the safety of ageing infrastructure.
Morandi Bridge Collapsed in 2018
The disaster occurred on 14 August 2018, when a section of the Morandi Bridge in Genoa collapsed during heavy rain.
Cars and trucks fell from the elevated motorway, killing 43 people and leaving many others injured or displaced.
The tragedy shocked Italy and prompted an intense national debate over the condition of the country’s ageing bridges, roads and other critical infrastructure.
Former Autostrade CEO Receives 12-Year Sentence
Among those convicted was Giovanni Castellucci, former chief executive of motorway operator Autostrade per l’Italia (Aspi).
The court sentenced Castellucci to 12 years in prison, making him one of the most prominent defendants held responsible in the case.
Former senior executive Michele Donferri Mitelli received an 11-year sentence. Several engineers and transport officials were also convicted and given prison terms.
However, not everyone involved in the lengthy proceedings was convicted. Some defendants were acquitted, while other charges were dropped because of Italy’s statutory time limits.
The defendants had denied wrongdoing throughout the trial.
Families Welcome Recognition of Responsibility
For families who lost loved ones, the verdict brought a mixture of relief and continuing grief.
Many relatives said that no court decision could undo the loss caused by the collapse. However, they viewed the convictions as an important acknowledgment of responsibility.
Victims’ families had followed the proceedings for years, attending hearings and demanding accountability from those responsible for the bridge’s safety.
Bridge Maintenance at Centre of Trial
A central issue in the trial was whether warning signs about the condition of the Morandi Bridge had been ignored.
Prosecutors argued that deterioration had been identified over the years and that essential maintenance and safety work had not been carried out adequately or quickly enough.
Defence lawyers rejected the allegations. They argued that the disaster was primarily connected to weaknesses in the bridge’s original design rather than negligence by individual executives or officials.
The court examined extensive technical evidence before reaching its verdict.
Genoa Builds a New Bridge
The damaged Morandi Bridge was demolished in 2019.
A replacement structure, the San Giorgio Bridge, opened in 2020. Designed by renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano, the new bridge became a symbol of Genoa’s recovery after the tragedy.
However, the new structure could not erase the memories of the disaster or the loss experienced by victims’ families.
Verdict Marks a New Chapter
The Genoa Morandi Bridge trial has now reached a major milestone, but the case’s wider significance extends beyond the prison sentences.
The disaster highlighted the consequences that can follow when ageing infrastructure is not properly monitored and maintained.
For many relatives, justice means more than holding individuals accountable. They also hope the verdict will encourage stronger safety standards and ensure that warnings about critical infrastructure are taken seriously.
The Morandi Bridge collapse remains a painful reminder that protecting public safety must take priority over financial and operational considerations.
