Rop Saltberg
Poor maintenance, corruption or just poorly built? Immediately after the collapse of a viaduct near Fossano in the northern province of Cuneo, a major judicial investigation was launched. But the huge chunks of concrete at the exit road are not isolated. In the past three years, seven concrete structures have come down 'spontaneously' along all kinds of roads in Italy.
In the accident on the outskirts of Fossano, two police officers miraculously escaped the suddenly fallen concrete mass. The two carabinieri conducted 231 routine checks on passing cars along the state highway. Hearing a 'grinding sound' they moved away from the viaduct to look up, just in time to avoid being buried.
Unacceptable
By coincidence, no cars were driving over the viaduct at the time of the impact, and only the police officers' empty patrol car was left behind under the mounds of concrete. Justice now mainly wants to know more about the maintenance of the viaduct at Fossano in recent years. But it is also examined whether there were construction errors during construction in the XNUMXs, when the viaduct was made.
"It is extremely serious and unacceptable that a recent construction could collapse just like that," said Transport Minister Graziano. According to the state-owned company ANAS, which is responsible for road maintenance in Italy, the inspection had been carried out along state road 231 a day before the accident. But there is now a lot to explain. Three viaducts collapsed in six months.
Crime
Over a period of three years, there are even seven large constructions spread across the country. The accidents killed seven people and injured 14 drivers. "Somewhere between road construction and outright crime goes wrong, that is the sad state of public works construction in Italy," concludes Republic in a gloomy commentary. 'Who actually declares who pays for their safety when already existing bridges and viaducts are inspected?'
The regional board of piedmontIn any case, where Fossano is also located, does not intend to wait until the cause of the incident is on the table. The region will start a large-scale investigation into all recently built viaducts as soon as possible. "It seems to me strongly that overdue maintenance is an explanation," said a local administrator. "You're talking about roads that were built so recently."
Photos: Vigili del Fuoco/Polizia di Stato/YouTube
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