Atlantia group subsidiary
Autostrade per l'Italia (ASPI) motorway company allegedly knew
as early as 2014 that a bridge that collapsed in Genoa killing
43 in August 2018 was at risk of collapse, an Italian newspaper
has reported.
So far ASPI managers have told investigators that no report
from motorway risk monitoring company SPEA had flagged up any
alarm on the Morandi Bridge.
But now a document taken from Atlantia's digital archive has
been seized by finance police investigators, La Repubblica daily
said.
That risk programming document, drafted by ASPI's risk
office, was allegedly seen by successive board meetings of both
ASPI and Atlantia.
In it, the Morandi Bridge was said to be at risk of collapse
from 2014 to 2016, Le Repubblica said, while from 2017 the
assessment was changed "risk of losing stability".
ASPI responded to the report Wednesday night saying that
"instructions from the Board to the operational structures is to
always safeguard and manage (risks) with the utmost rigour,
adopting all preventive measures deemed opportune".
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Paolo De Micheli said
Thursday that "anyone who has a public role (in infrastructure
care) must pay".
She said "anyone who has a bridge in their care is not doing
a routine job".
De Micheli said that ASPI's reaction to another report, on
the presence of a transport ministry official at an ASPI meeting
that allegedly discussed the Morandi Bridge collapse risk in
2015, was "unacceptable and incomprehensible".
ASPI allegedly said that the risk was "only theoretical".
In light of the alarm allegedly ignored by Atlantia in the
case, anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader and
Foreign Minister Luigi DI Maio said Thursday "we will continue
our battle to strip (Atlantia) of its motorway concession."
Atlantia has reportedly made keeping the motorway concessions
a condition for its taking part in the rescue of troubled
Italian former flag carrier Alitalia.
A new bridge is being built in Genoa, designed by local
starchitect Renzo Piano, featuring sail-like structures to
reflect the city's maritime heritage.
It is expected to be ready next year.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
