Highways company ASPI finally apologizes before Morandi-bridge-disaster verdicts

Highways company Autostrade per

l'Italia (ASPI) finally apologized for the 2018

Morandi-bridge-collapse disaster in Genoa in which 43 people

died with an open letter by CEO Arrigo Giana published in

Wednesday's edition of Il Corriere della Sera ahead of the

verdicts of the first-instance trial on Thursday.

In total, 57 people are on trial in relation to the bridge

collapse, including the former heads and technical officials of

ASPI and its SPEA maintenance and road safety arm.

The charges range from culpable failure to comply with one's

duty for workplace safety and falsifying official documents to

multiple culpable homicide.

"As I followed the collapse of the Morandi Bridge at the time, I

continued to wonder how it was possible (for the company) not to

immediately apologize for what had happened," wrote Giana, who

took over the helm of ASPI last year.

"(It was) an additional incomprehensible wound the community

tragically experienced.

"The actions and choices of some left indelible wounds, so today

making the apologies we didn't make yesterday is our moral

imperative, one that goes beyond determining responsibility as

justice runs its course to establish the truth.

"Today, the company is different than it was then: a new

management under state control with new shareholders.

"A new management, with new executives working day by day to

monitor the network, plan interventions, and prevent risks, thus

ensuring the safety of infrastructure, travellers, and workers.

"So we break the silence.

"Reiterating the absolute commitment of our ten thousand workers

to ensure that such events never happen again, on behalf of the

Autostrade per l'Italia Group, I wish to apologize to the

families of the victims, to the people of Genoa, and to all

Italians, for the suffering caused by the tragedy of the Morandi

bridge. While fully aware that our gesture will never erase

their pain."

The prosecution says that many of the defendants knew that the

motorway viaduct could collapse but did nothing to prevent this

from happening.

ASPI and SPEA themselves are no longer involved in the criminal

trial after a plea bargain to pay damages of around 30 million

euros.

The remains of the Morandi bridge were demolished and another

viaduct designed by starchitect Renzo Piano opened in August

2020 took its place.

Piano, a Genoa native, created the design for the new bridge for

free as a gift to the city.

The audacious new structure has been named the Genoa San Giorgio

Bridge.

It features sail-like structures, to reflect the northwestern

port city's rich maritime heritage.

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