Highway bridge collapses in northern Italy

A 400-metre highway bridge in northern Italy collapsed on Wednesday, but only one person was injured in what was dubbed “a near-miss tragedy.”

A 400-metre highway bridge in northern Italy collapsed on Wednesday, but only one person was injured in what has been dubbed "a near-miss tragedy."

One driver was hospitalised, the city of Aulla, the closest municipality, wrote on Facebook.

The other driver was "practically unhurt" but in shock, the ANSA news agency said.

Police and fire crews roped off the access road to the bridge over the Magra River in Albiano Magra in the province of Massa Carrara, according to local officials..

Given Italy's nationwide coronavirus lockdown, there were only two trucks on the provincial road at the time.

The Anas road agency had sent inspectors to the bridge last year after a crack developed following heavy rains.

The section was cleared for further use, Italian agency ANSA said.

The mayor of Aulla, Roberto Vallettini, had written to Anas flagging that heavy trucks were repeatedly using the two-lane bridge because of nearby road closures.

The bridge collapse comes as Italy is still working to rebuild the heavily used Morandi Bridge in Genoa, which collapsed in 2018 during a rainstorm, killing 43 people.

Source: 9News https://www.9news.com.au/world/italy-highway-bridge-collapses-near-miss-tragedy/72fccf58-adf0-46cd-84f2-c05364ce2a51