Engineering experts determined in February that corrosion of the metal cables supporting the Genoa highway bridge had reduced the bridge's strength by 20 percent — a finding that came months before it collapsed last week, an Italian newsmagazine reported Monday. A large section of the Morandi Bridge collapsed Aug. 14 during a heavy downpour, killing 43 people and forcing the evacuation of more than 600 people living in apartment buildings beneath another section of the bridge. Work continued to clear the tons of bridge debris that cascaded onto a dry riverbed below. Bidding on a 20-million-euro ($22.8-million) contract to reinforce two of the major supports for the bridge, including one that collapsed, was scheduled to close next month. Italy's main union confederation estimates it would cost Italy between 15 billion and 18 billion euros ($17.1 billion to $20.6 billion) to revoke the highway rights.

Source: Fox News August 20, 2018 12:45 UTC