Riccardo Morandi

Riccardo Morandi was the Italian structural engineer who designed the Polcevera Viaduct, commonly known as the Morandi Bridge, in Genoa. The bridge, a significant piece of infrastructure, tragically collapsed in August 2018 during a rainstorm, resulting in the deaths of 43 people. This disaster brought Morandi's design and the maintenance of the bridge under intense scrutiny. Recently, in a landmark trial related to the collapse, former executives of the motorway operator Autostrade per l'Italia were handed prison sentences, including a 12-year term for the former chief executive. While Morandi himself is deceased, his legacy is now inextricably linked to one of Italy's deadliest infrastructure failures. The collapse and subsequent legal proceedings have highlighted critical issues regarding infrastructure safety, accountability, and the long-term implications of engineering decisions.