bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-45183624
Some driver has been lucky. Pictures elsewhere showing the unlucky. Weather seems to be a factor in it is the report. We’ve run along that many times, doesn’t bear thinking about.
Was watching it on Italian news earlier.Its luckily missed several apartment blocks.Witnesses were saying they saw sparks coming from the bridge and it had work done on it in 2016.
Very spectacular bit of road that that I’ve run along many times myself. I’ve often wondered as to.its age as it certainly seemed old. Such an awful situation doesn’t bear thinking about. On the one hand think how lucky that truck driver in the picture is, on the other how unlucky at witnessing something so awful
I suspect brown underpants, followed by his fastest ever sprint off that bridge.
There are pictures elsewhere of a white truck lying on top of fallen bridge sections.
switchlogic:
Very spectacular bit of road that that I’ve run along many times myself. I’ve often wondered as to.its age as it certainly seemed old. Such an awful situation doesn’t bear thinking about. On the one hand think how lucky that truck driver in the picture is, on the other how unlucky at witnessing something so awful
Built in the 60s according to the news.
An absolute tragedgy…
Been over it many times.
It’s hard to grasp just how devastating this must be. There you are minding your own business and next thing, the bridge collapses from under your vehicle.
My condolances to all concerned.
Absolutely horrific. Apparently dozens of fatalities. As someone who does not like heights I always feel dodgy going over the bridges to wales. You’d think in a first world European country this couldn’t happen.
I don’t suppose there is a lot more to be said - I’m having a free mini break with my partner (who is working) in Cornwall, I just think I’ll make the most of it as you never really know when your time is up.
albion:
We’ve run along that many times, doesn’t bear thinking about.
Me too going to the ferry terminal numerous times when travelling to the Italian Islands.Ironically I always get the creeps using big bridges and tunnels etc and don’t think I’ve ever used one without getting the what if feeling in the background.
Now I know SFA about the physics and forces on a bridge, but to my untrained eye that last picture looks as if the two sections don’t line up straight.
I’ve been on those bridges around Genoa and along the coast road many times, pretty spectacular pieces of engineering considering they were built 50yrs or more years ago.
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This is the second Italian motorway bridge to collapse in just under a year and a half 
Jeez!That’s scary.I can imagine the thoughts going through the lucky driver’s head.I hope it never happens at the Millau viaduct or the Moseltalbrucke.Long time to review your life on the way down.
newmercman:
Now I know SFA about the physics and forces on a bridge, but to my untrained eye that last picture looks as if the two sections don’t line up straight.I’ve been on those bridges around Genoa and along the coast road many times, pretty spectacular pieces of engineering considering they were built 50yrs or more years ago.
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But there’s many potential variables. Camera angle, stress from the collapse, stress from before the collapse wjich may have contributed etc etc.
If you ask me the operator of the bridge has come out very early and said how much it’s monitored. Kind of one doth protest too much if you like?
But that’s for the future and I’m sure all will come out in the wash or a few horse heads may prevent it from coming out in the wash, whichever, but for today my heart goes put to all those affected by what is a genuine tragedy.
newmercman:
Now I know SFA about the physics and forces on a bridge, but to my untrained eye that last picture looks as if the two sections don’t line up straight.I’ve been on those bridges around Genoa and along the coast road many times, pretty spectacular pieces of engineering considering they were built 50yrs or more years ago.
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just going to say that myself,well out of sync,in another it looks like it’s twisted over the river section,ref the first part you said,looking at it if you followed it with your vision the left side would meet with the middle.
truckman020:
newmercman:
Now I know SFA about the physics and forces on a bridge, but to my untrained eye that last picture looks as if the two sections don’t line up straight.I’ve been on those bridges around Genoa and along the coast road many times, pretty spectacular pieces of engineering considering they were built 50yrs or more years ago.
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just going to say that myself,well out of sync,in another it looks like it’s twisted over the river section,ref the first part you said,looking at it if you followed it with your vision the left side would meet with the middle.
So if it’s such an engineering ■■■■ up how come it’s stood for 70yrs? Italian news reckon it got hit by lightning.
Some good background info on the BBC site including this from a UK engineer :-
" A ‘very unusual design’
Ian Firth, a structural engineer and specialist in bridges, said the Morandi bridge is of a “very unusual design”.
“It is too early to say what caused the tragic collapse, but as this reinforced and pre-stressed concrete bridge has been there for 50 years, it is possible that corrosion of tendons or reinforcement may be a contributory factor," the former president of the Institution of Structural Engineers said.
He said the storm taking place at the time and the ongoing work on the foundations may or may not be relevant - we simply do not know yet."
Rest of it here :-
bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-45182675
Wasn’t that tanker explosion the other day in Genoa as well■■?
Horrific.
Sympathies to all involved, of course.
Been over it a few times and hardly have it a second thought. The Autostrada south of Rome always did make me slightly nervous though: when they started repairs on that section, when on the contraflow you could see the crumbling concrete on the adjacent carriageway; and reflect that the part you were using hadn’t yet been fixed.
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SouthEastCashew:
Wasn’t that tanker explosion the other day in Genoa as well■■?
Bologna
toonsy:
SouthEastCashew:
Wasn’t that tanker explosion the other day in Genoa as well■■?Bologna
Ah close enough then lol 