Italian pedestrian bridge. Modernity and interesting facts

The death toll from the collapse of the Morandi road bridge in Genoa, Italy, has risen to 22 people, said Italian Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Edoardo Rixi.

Eight people were injured, the BBC reported.

The collapsed bridge is part of the A10 motorway, which runs along the coast. Mediterranean Sea and connects Genoa and the French border city of Ventimiglia. Its height is 50 meters.

A section of the bridge collapsed onto the railroad tracks below, and cars and trucks fell along with the structure. Currently, rescuers are clearing the rubble, removing the bodies of the dead and wounded, who are being taken to hospitals in Genoa.

The photo shows that the central part of the bridge has collapsed.

The structure was erected in the 60s of the last century and was known as the Morandi Bridge. In 2016, renovation work was carried out on it.

The collapsed section is tens of meters long. There is no official information about the cause of the collapse. According to one version, a possible cause could be “structural fatigue.” In addition, the storm that is currently raging in the region could have triggered the disaster.

Morandi Bridge

The collapsed bridge is named after the Italian engineer Riccardo Morandi, who was the author of the project. It is also known as "Brooklyn" due to its vague resemblance to.

The bridge has a combined support-cable structure, in which, in addition to supports, the roadway is supported by three pylons with cables. The length of the bridge is a kilometer, and the height of the pylons is almost 100 m.

The bridges built by Ricardo Morandi, with their impressive design, are distinguished by a simplified design: instead of the usual cables, the engineer used a few concrete beams that act as cables supporting the bridge.

Another Morandi project, a bridge in Venezuela, actually a twin of the bridge in Genoa, also became a victim of disaster: it collapsed in 1964 after a ship crashed into it.

The Morandi Bridge connected two districts of Genoa - Sampierdarena and Cornigliano; it was located in a densely populated area in close proximity away from residential buildings and busy streets.

After the accident, dozens of cars piled up on both sides of the bridge, including in the tunnel, blocking traffic on this section of the highway.

Recently, the Italian construction company Autostrade per l’Italia, which maintains the country’s roads, has been carrying out scheduled repair work on the bridge. The company's stock quotes on the stock exchange fell sharply immediately following information about the collapse.

According to company representatives, they constantly monitored the condition of the bridge structures. The head of the company, Giovanni Castellucci, said that the bridge was not in a dangerous condition.

Recall that on March 15 in Miami at Florida International University, killing at least 6 people.

The bridge over the highway can be completed in just a day. During its construction, “accelerated bridge construction” technologies were used for the first time in order not to interrupt traffic flow on the 8-lane highway.

Most of the bridge was assembled on the side of the road and then installed over the highway.

The Italian Bridge is located in the center of St. Petersburg, next to Nevsky Prospekt. It is a continuation of Italianskaya Street and crosses the Griboyedov Canal, connecting Spassky Island with Kazan Island. Nearby are the famous sights of the city: the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, the Zoshchenko Apartment Museum, the Mikhailovsky Theater and the monument to Ostap Bender.

Story

The Italian Bridge took its name from the palace of the same name, built in St. Petersburg at the beginning of the 18th century. The palace was intended to host balls, assemblies and other entertainment events for representatives of the aristocracy. The street located nearby was called Bolshaya Italianskaya, and later simply Italianskaya. And in the place where the bridge was subsequently built, it was possible to cross the canal on a yawl - a small two-oared boat.

The crossing project was proposed by a young ambitious engineer named Kolpitsyn. He really wanted the city's residents to be able to walk across the canal on a bridge, rather than on boats. Despite the fact that the city government did not support the project, he began construction with his own funds. So in 1896, in continuation of Italian Street, the master erected a wooden bridge, consisting of one span.

He used granite-lined canal walls as supports. The span consisted of ten diagonal plank trusses, and xylolite tiles served as floors. For convenient passage of ships, the bridge was raised above the embankment level by 1.5 m, and stairs were installed at the entrances. The cost of construction was 3 thousand rubles, but the city refused to reimburse the engineer for the money spent. Moreover, the authorities did not allow setting a fee for crossing the bridge, even a symbolic one, 1 kopeck. As a result, L. Kolpitsyn was forced to transfer the crossing to the city free of charge.

In 1902, according to the design of K. Bald, builders replaced the xylolite covering of the bridge with a deck made of wide and massive boards. After 10 years, the crossing underwent a major overhaul, installing wooden pile supports and replacing the support system with a braced one.

The next reconstruction took place in 1937 during the laying of heat pipes and electrical networks In Petersburg. The Italian bridge was completely rebuilt and began to serve as a bridge and a heat pipeline at the same time. Its length was 18 m, width - a little more than 2 m.

By 1955, the crossing was in disrepair and required repairs. Engineers A. Gutzeit and V. Vasilkovsky developed a project for a metal bridge in the classicism style of the times of Joseph Stalin. The heat pipes were placed under the covering, and the walls of the embankments, also repaired, were again used as supports. The length of the crossing increased to 21 m, the width to 3 m. The supports were decorated with floor lamps with bright lamps, and the railing sections were decorated with capitals in the shape of buds. The bridge successfully fit into the architectural appearance of the area, and in 2002, after the installation of lighting, it became even more attractive.

Italian Bridge in our time

Italian bridge, intended only for pedestrians, single-span beam system. It rests on the granite walls of the embankments of the Griboyedov Canal, and the role of load-bearing elements is performed by two curved beams. At the top, the 19.66 m long span is covered with reinforced concrete slabs and asphalt concrete. The width of the crossing is 3 m.

Sections of the parapets are cast from cast iron and decorated with applied decorative elements: swords and shields with five-pointed Soviet stars. At the entrances there are granite pedestals with floor lamps, to which artistic octagonal lamps in the style of Russian classicism are attached.

Tourists constantly walk in the center of St. Petersburg, so the graceful bridge, recognized as an object cultural heritage countries, does not go unnoticed. In addition, it offers a beautiful view of the Savior on Spilled Blood - a temple with multi-colored domes and extraordinary mosaics.

Thanks to good location and architectural solutions of the bridge were captured during the filming of the film “The Adventures of Italians in Russia.” It can be seen in the episode when, during excavations, sculptures of lions supposedly standing nearby were destroyed. In reality, the statues depicted in the film did not exist.

The bridge is located near the Nevsky Prospekt station, the nearest bus stops and minibus taxis– “Nevsky Prospekt” and “Arts Square”.

Hello! If you are going to St. Petersburg for the first time, then I suggest you familiarize yourself with my 5-day program. It will allow you to see the main attractions and get into the spirit of the city. Start admiring the city from the Ploshchad Vosstaniya metro station. Near the metro there is a monument to the Hero City of Leningrad and the Moskovsky Station. Take in the sights and head towards the Anichky Bridge along Nevsky Prospekt. Along the way you will come across several interesting buildings. When you reach the bridge, also admire the beautiful creations - statues of the conquering horse. Behind the bridge on the right along the embankment is the Shuvalov Palace - one of the most beautiful palaces in St. Petersburg. Inside is the Faberge Museum, home to the world's largest collection of works by Carl Faberge. To the left behind the bridge is the Anichkov Palace - the oldest surviving building on Nevsky Prospekt. When you have visited the mentioned attractions, return to Nevsky Prospekt and walk to the Griboyedov Canal. Turn right and go towards the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. On the way to it you will meet the Russian Museum - the world's largest museum of Russian art. Near the Temple there is the Mikhailovsky Garden with an incredibly beautiful fence in the early Art Nouveau style. Take a short walk in the landscape park and return to the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. If you wish, you can get inside, which you absolutely will not regret. Go around the back of the temple and return to Nevsky Prospekt along the opposite side of the Griboyedov Canal. Don't forget to admire the view of the temple from the Italian Bridge. At the corner of the Griboyedov Canal and Nevsky Prospekt there is a house that once belonged to the Singer company. The first floors currently house the largest bookstore - the House of Books. And the upper floors are occupied by an office social network In contact with. The graceful attic of the building is topped with a glass globe, which gives the Singer House a special charm. Admire the building, and then move your gaze to the opposite side of the road. You will see another very beautiful architectural monument of the city - the Kazan Cathedral. This is one of the largest churches in St. Petersburg, made in the Empire style. Cross the road and stand under the huge columns to feel like a speck among all this enormous splendor. Then return to Nevsky Prospekt again, turn onto Malaya Morskaya and walk to St. Isaac's Cathedral. Explore this huge building in the late Russian classicism style of the 19th century. Visit the temple and then climb the colonnade for a panoramic view of the city. The radio guide will allow you to get acquainted with the sights that open before your eyes. Afterwards, go to the famous monument - the Bronze Horseman. Next, move towards the golden spire - the Admiralty Building, which is located behind the Alexander Garden. The Main Admiralty building is a significant monument of Russian Empire architecture. There is a fountain near the building. By the way, if you make a wish in a special way, it will definitely come true. How to do this - watch this video. Next, head along the Admiralteyskaya Embankment towards Palace Square. On the square, see some of the city's most important attractions: the Alexander Column, the General Staff Building and Winter Palace. After looking around, head towards the Admiralteyskaya metro station. Admiralteyskaya metro station is another amazing attraction of the city, as it is the deepest metro station in Russia. Take a look around inside and go home to rest. You will still need a lot of strength for the remaining 4 days.

Monstrous disaster in Italy. Not far from Genoa, a bridge carrying a motorway collapsed. Apparently, this span is about 100 meters long. It crashed right onto the houses. In addition, about 20 cars were on the bridge at the time of the collapse.

A large-scale rescue operation. According to official data cited by the Deputy Minister of Transport of Italy, at least seven people were killed. But local media report that there could be dozens of victims.

It is already known that rescuers managed to pull several survivors out from under the rubble. There is also information that collapsed structures damaged the gas pipeline and a leak began.

Concerning possible reasons disasters. One of the main versions is the subsidence of structures, probably due to prolonged rains. The region is currently under an orange weather alert.

At least 11 people died as a result of the collapse of a road bridge, a representative of the Italian Ministry of Internal Affairs announced this figure on a local TV channel. According to other sources, there are dozens of victims. From a height of a hundred meters, about 20 cars fell directly onto houses. A large-scale rescue operation is now unfolding. As reported by Rostourism, there is no data on injured Russians.

“A monstrous tragedy. Of epochal proportions,” this is the entire reaction of the Italian authorities to what happened in Genoa, and these four words were spoken by two different officials, but they convey the essence of what is happening exhaustively. There is very little information, it will come in, and you still have to comprehend it. Now all that is clear is that it was a nightmare.

On the A10 motorway, a huge span of the Morandi road bridge collapsed; it was named after the Italian engineer Riccardo Morandi, who lived in the last century, famous for his bridge designs. This happened around noon local time (it was one o'clock in the afternoon in Moscow). The bridge no longer has a section at least 100-200 meters long. Traffic, naturally, is blocked - there is simply nothing to go on.

According to emergency doctors, dozens of people became victims of the tragedy; people and cars fell from a hundred-meter height. They also fell on residential buildings located next to the bridge and the parking lot that was under it. According to some sources, there were many cars on the bridge at the time of the collapse; according to others, on the contrary, the traffic was not very intense due to summer holidays And bad weather- It rains all day in Genoa.

Several dozen rescuers are now working at the scene of the tragedy, including dog handlers looking for people under the rubble. Several people have already been pulled out of the mangled cars. Local authorities suggest that the cause of the collapse could have been weakening of the supporting structures. But debriefing will come later; now the main thing is clearing out the rubble. And what is no less serious is further monitoring of the situation: according to the RAI-24 TV channel, the collapse led to damage to gas pipes and a gas leak.

We have prepared our selection of the most beautiful and unusual bridges in Italy, each of which is worth walking along at least once in your life, holding the hand of a loved one.

10. BRIDGE OF TIBERIUS. RIMINI

One of the oldest bridges on the territory of modern Italy, it was built back in the twenties of our era. Of course, the structure cannot boast of unusual decor, but from the point of view of engineering, the bridge is unique: just imagine how much it has gone through during its almost 2000-year history.

By the way, during the Second World War, the Germans rolled military guns across the bridge, but even this did not damage the structure; in a word, the Tiberius Bridge is not only one of the oldest, but also one of the strongest bridges in Italy.

9. BRIDGE OF SIGHS. VENICE

The romantic name of the bridge actually has a sinister meaning. Although there is a beautiful legend in Venice that the Bridge of Sighs got its name because in ancient times, under its shadow, followers of Casanova made love in gondolas, in reality everything was not so.

This bridge connects the Doge's Palace with the local prison, and sad sighs were issued not by lovers giving in to caresses, but by convicts who went across the bridge to their prison cells and cast their last sad glance at the beautiful Venice. However, today the Bridge of Sighs, built in 1602 by Antonio Conti, is a beautiful example of Baroque architecture.

8. DEVIL'S BRIDGE. CIVIDALE DEL FRIULI

The massive bridge was erected on the steep banks of the stormy Natisone River; wide and strong, it hangs like a silent guard over the ever-turbulent water.

According to legend, a powerful stone bridge was built by Lucifer himself, to whom the inhabitants promised in exchange for the construction of the structure the soul of the one who would be the first to climb the bridge.

In the photo: general view of the Devil's Bridge

When the bridge was built, an animal was released onto it, and as a result the devil was left with nothing.

7. PONTE VECCHIO. BASSANO DEL GRAPPA

The small town in Northern Italy of Bassano del Grappa is famous not only for the production of grappa, the cultivation of white asparagus and the creation of amazingly beautiful ceramics, but also for its bridge, called Ponte Vecchio, which means “old bridge”.

The bridge is half wooden, half stone; the supports, roof and decorative elements of the structure are made of wood. Another nice thing is that in the evenings Ponte Vecchio is the main party spot in the town.

In the photo: view from Ponte Vecchio, Bassano del Grappa

On both sides of the bridge there are small bars where Bassano residents buy a spritz and the local aperitif “mezzo e mezzo”, consisting of 50% red liqueur and another 50% herbal liqueur, and then diluted with water. Drinking on the bridge is not forbidden, but encouraged, which is why young people hang out here for hours, admiring the captivating views from the Ponte Vecchio.

6. GAIOLA BRIDGE IN THE GULF OF NEOPOLITAN

Gaiola are two small islands, which are rocks protruding from the waters of the Gulf of Neopalitana. They are connected by an unusual suspended stone bridge, which is held in the air, seemingly contrary to the laws of physics.

On one island there is a villa, the second is uninhabited. However, the villa has also been empty for many years, as local residents We are sure that a curse hangs over her: all the owners of the villa have died or died terrible death, or went broke, or went crazy. Although the bridge is considered a strong structure, only the most desperate travelers dare to walk across it.

5. ACADEMY BRIDGE. VENICE

The only wooden bridge in Venice, created by the architect Miozzi in 1934, was not liked by the city's residents at first. It was considered too modern and not in keeping with the appearance of the city on the water.

However, the Academy Bridge was conceived as a kind of temporary solution; it was built to replace the steel bridge located on this site, and the Venetians sincerely believed that the unusual wooden structure would soon be replaced with the usual stone bridge. But as the years passed, people got used to the bridge, and now Ponte dell’Accademia is another symbol of the city. The only thing is that the wooden structure spanning the Grand Canal can hardly withstand the crowds of tourists (especially during the carnival).

In 1985, the first Academy bridge had already been demolished and replaced with a new one, although it looked new bridge exactly like its predecessor, and even now the Venetian authorities are seriously thinking about the next reconstruction of the building.

4. PONTE PIETRA. VERONA

Stone arch bridge, built in the first century BC by Roman architects and in ancient times bore the name Marmoreus.

From Ponte Pietra one of the best views on the stormy Adige River, the hills and villas of Verona, and the bridge itself looks very cinematic in the photographs. In 1945, during the retreat of the German army, Ponte Pietra was completely destroyed, but after the war it was restored.

Nowadays tourists like to take pictures on the bridge and kiss like couples.

3. PONTE VECCHIO. FLORENCE

Ponte Vecchiu, that is, “the old bridge”, in this case the name is one hundred percent telling. This is truly the oldest bridge in Florence; it was built back in 1345 according to the design of the architect Neri di Fioravanti.

The houses built on the bridge originally housed butchers' shops, but for more than five centuries, jewelers have survived from here as butchers. Nowadays, in the shops on Ponte Vecchia you can increasingly find not works of jewelry, but gold crafts of a tourist nature, but the appearance of the bridge is worthy of everyone’s attention. However, it is better to admire the Ponte Vecchio from the shore; there is always a crowd on the bridge itself.

2. RIALTO BRIDGE. VENICE

The Rialto is not even a bridge, it is the same symbol of Venice as the horses on the Cathedral of San Marco, the Doge's Palace and the ferocious winged lion. The bridge in the form of an arch, made of light stone, was built in the sixteenth century according to the design of the architect Antonio de Ponte (by the way, his surname means “bridge” in Italian) and has survived to this day completely unchanged.

On Rialto, as in the times of the gallant age, there are shops selling everything under the sun, and near the bridge there are bars, which locals like to drop into to have a glass of spritz during the evening aperitif.

The Rialto Bridge is mentioned in Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice and appears in Casanova's memoirs. The greatest Venetian adventurer wrote that noble gentlemen liked to come to the market near Rialto in the morning to demonstrate with their shabby appearance how wildly and indecently they had spent the previous night.

1. BRIDGE OF THE HOLY ANGEL. ROME

Built back in 139 AD by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, the bridge over the Tiber River became famous in the fifteenth century after a sad incident: the structure could not withstand the crowd of pilgrims heading to St. Peter's Basilica, and the bridge railings collapsed.

After this they removed from the bridge triumphal arch, and its railings were decorated with statues of angels, which even today silently look at tourists who come to the eternal City. By the way, the idea of ​​decorating the bridge with statues was adopted by the architects of Prague from Rome; the famous Charles Bridge was created exactly “based on” the Bridge of the Holy Angel.

This place has a double reputation: on the one hand, it was a place of execution of criminals, on the other, the bridge is so beautiful that, having stepped on it, you instantly forget about the sad past of this place.

The only thing that can ruin the impression is the black immigrants selling fake Gucci and Louis Vuitton bags here, but if you focus your attention not on them, but on the sculptures of angels, then the Sant’Angelo Bridge can rightfully be called the most beautiful in Italy.

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Yulia Malkova- Yulia Malkova - founder of the website project. In the past, he was the editor-in-chief of the elle.ru Internet project and the editor-in-chief of the cosmo.ru website. I talk about travel for my own pleasure and the pleasure of my readers. If you are a representative of hotels or a tourism office, but we do not know each other, you can contact me by email: [email protected]