Nearly seven years after the tragic collapse of Genoa’s Morandi Bridge, an Italian court has handed down prison sentences to several former motorway executives and public officials. The ruling marks one of the biggest legal decisions linked to the disaster that claimed 43 lives and shocked Italy in 2018.
The collapse happened on 14 August 2018, when a section of the busy motorway bridge gave way during heavy rainfall. Dozens of cars and trucks plunged to the ground below, leaving families across Italy grieving and raising serious concerns about the country’s ageing transport infrastructure.
Former Motorway Executive Receives 12-Year Sentence
Among those convicted was Giovanni Castellucci, the former chief executive of motorway operator Autostrade per l’Italia (Aspi). The court sentenced him to 12 years in prison, making him one of the highest-profile figures held responsible in the case.
Former senior executive Michele Donferri Mitelli was sentenced to 11 years, while several engineers and transport officials also received prison terms. At the same time, a number of defendants were acquitted or had charges dropped because they exceeded Italy’s legal time limits for prosecution.
Throughout the lengthy trial, all of the defendants denied any wrongdoing.
Families Say the Verdict Brings Some Measure of Justice
For the relatives of those who died, the court’s decision brought mixed emotions. While no verdict can erase the pain of losing loved ones, many families said they finally felt that responsibility had been recognised after years of waiting.
Some relatives described the ruling as an important step toward justice, while others said the emotional scars left by the disaster would never fully heal.
The trial has remained closely followed across Italy, with victims’ families attending hearings and continuing to demand accountability from those responsible for maintaining the bridge.
Maintenance Failures Became the Focus of the Trial
Prosecutors argued that warning signs about the condition of the Morandi Bridge had been ignored for years. They claimed necessary maintenance work was repeatedly delayed despite growing concerns over the ageing structure.
Defence lawyers strongly disputed those allegations, insisting the collapse was primarily caused by weaknesses in the bridge’s original design rather than negligence by company officials.
The court considered years of technical evidence before reaching its decision.
A New Bridge, But Memories Remain
The remains of the Morandi Bridge were demolished in 2019, and a replacement structure, the San Giorgio Bridge, opened less than two years later. Designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano, the new bridge has become a symbol of Genoa’s recovery.
Even so, the tragedy continues to leave a lasting mark on the city and on the families who lost parents, children, spouses and friends.
With the verdict now delivered, one of Italy’s most painful infrastructure disasters enters a new chapter. For many relatives, however, justice is about more than prison sentences. They hope the case serves as a lasting reminder that public safety must always come before profit and that failures in maintaining critical infrastructure should never be ignored again.
