In Genoa, Italy, judges are scheduled to deliver a verdict on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in the first criminal trial concerning the collapse of the Morandi road bridge. The disaster occurred on August 14, 2018, when the 1,182-metre structure, designed by architect Riccardo Morandi and nicknamed Italy’s “Brooklyn Bridge,” gave way, killing 43 people.

The tragedy spotlighted Italy’s ageing infrastructure and raised questions about whether the collapse could have been prevented. Investigations revealed that the collapse was triggered by the rupture of load-bearing cables inside the stay of the bridge’s ninth pillar, which had been corroded over its 51-year lifespan. The bridge, inaugurated in 1967, underwent major reinforcement work in the 1990s.

Defence lawyers have argued that the collapse resulted from an original construction flaw at the top of the stay cable that failed, a defect they claim was impossible to detect and could not have been prevented by maintenance.

Three months before the collapse, in April 2018, Autostrade, the company responsible for the bridge, had announced a 20,000-euro ($22,840) call for structural retrofitting, which would have included work on the section that eventually failed, according to Italy’s financial newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore.

Families of the victims, including Claudia, have expressed hope that the trial will bring justice not only for those who died but also for Italian citizens at large, emphasizing the need for greater security and accountability.

The Morandi bridge collapse also raised concerns about the safety of up to 10,000 bridges and tunnels across Italy, highlighting widespread infrastructure risks, as reported by Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler.

Sources