The Morandi Bridge Collapse
The Collapse of Genoa’s Morandi Bridge places the ethics of maintaining aging infrastructure at the center of public attention. On August 14, 2018, part of the bridge and one of its towers collapsed during heavy rain, killing 43 people. The bridge’s unusual design made important structural elements difficult to inspect, while corrosion, deterioration, heavier traffic, and decades of repairs had raised concerns about its condition. Responsibility for the bridge involved its original designers, government agencies, maintenance engineers, inspectors, and the private company operating the highway. The main ethical question is how long an aging structure should remain in use when deterioration is known but engineers cannot precisely determine when a failure will occur. The case also asks whether organizations responsible for profitable infrastructure should be allowed to determine for themselves when extensive repairs, restrictions, or replacement are necessary.