A view of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge, in Genoa, Italy. Photo / AP
A view of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge, in Genoa, Italy. Photo / AP
This is the dramatic moment the Genoa highway bridge, which collapsed last week killing 43 people, comes crashing down onto the streets below.
CCTV footage shows concrete blocks and debris falling onto the roads, just seconds after a man is seen walking in the same spot, filling the screen with white dust.
It has been released as it is revealed that experts warned months ago that the corrosion of the metal cables supporting the bridge had reduced its strength by 20 per cent - yet local authorities did nothing to limit traffic or warn the public.
And investigation and the results came in February - six months before the collapse last week, Italian newsmagazine Espresso reported Monday.
Despite the findings, 'neither the ministry, nor the highway company, ever considered it necessary to limit traffic, divert heavy trucks, reduce the roadway from two to one lanes or reduce the speed' of vehicles on the key artery for the northern port city.
A large section of the Morandi Bridge collapsed August 14 during a heavy downpour, killing 43 people and forcing the evacuation of more than 600 people living in apartment buildings beneath another section of the bridge.
Prosecutors are focusing their investigation into the cause of the bridge's collapse on possible faulty maintenance or design flaws but have not identified any targets.
After workers heard creaking noises coming from the part of the bridge that was still standing, firefighters suspended an operation to allow evacuated residents to retrieve their belongings from apartments under the bridge.
The Italian news agency ANSA reported that officials have ruled out that the sound could be caused by wind, and that more checks are underway.
Firefighters on the ground confirmed the reports but declined to be identified as they were not authorized to speak to the media. Work continued to clear the tons of bridge debris that cascaded onto a dry riverbed below.
In its report, Espresso cited the minutes of a meeting of the Genoa public works superintendent, which included Roberto Ferrazza, an architect named to head a government commission looking into the disaster, and Antonio Brencich, an engineer who has been outspoken about the bridge's flaws.
Former Transport Minister Graziano Delrio told a news conference Monday that 'no one ever signalled the necessity of limiting traffic' on the bridge.
Espresso reporter Fabrizio Gatti told SKY TG24 that a reduction of 20 per cent strength would not be significant in a modern bridge, but on a structure with the known defects of the Morandi Bridge it should have merited swifter, more decisive action.
'Everyone was well aware of the situation on that bridge,' Gatti said.
Bidding on a 20-million-euro (£18million) contract to reinforce two of the major supports for the bridge, including one that collapsed, was scheduled to close next month.
A view of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge, in Genoa, Italy. Photo / AP
The Italian government, meanwhile, appeared divided on how to proceed in relation to Autostrade per l'Italia, the company that operated the section of highway that collapsed.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Danilo Toninelli was quoted by the Milan daily Corriere della Sera as saying that he supported the nationalisation of Italy's toll highways like the including the bridge.
'Think of all the revenues that would return to the government through tolls, to use not to donate to shareholders' dividends but to reinforce the quality of service and security on our roadways,' Toninelli was quoted as saying.
But Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini, who is also Italy's interior minister, told reporters he remains in favour of public-private cooperation in infrastructure.
Premier Giuseppe Conte says procedures have begun to revoke Autostrade per l'Italia's concession to operate some 3,000 kilometers (nearly 1,900 miles) of Italian highways, about half of the total highways operated by private companies.
Italy's main union confederation estimates it would cost Italy between 15 billion and 18 billion euros (£13.4billion to £20 billion) to revoke the highway rights.
