L’unicità del viadotto sul Polcevera = The unicity of the viaduct on the Polvecera

After the tragic collapse of a section of the viaduct on 14 August 2018, the demolition of the entire Bridge over the Polcevera River in Genoa has started. The bridge is a work of Riccardo Morandi, one of the most important bridge designers of the XX century in Italy and worldwide. The exceptionality of this work relies on the outstanding technical knowledge and engineering innovation displayed by that bridge despite the economic and political crisis affecting Italy since after the end of World War II. The ability of shaping sophisticated piece of structural engineering with a craft approach, forced by industrial underdevelopment in the Italian construction sector, is a common feature of the modus operandi of the Italian engineers at that time. The construction of the Autostrada Del Sole, the buildings for the Olimpic Games of Rome 1960 and for the Exposition of Turin 1961, are eloquent examples of such approach.