Former Highway Executive Sentenced to 12 Years for Deadly Genoa Bridge Collapse

GENOA, ITALY – In a landmark ruling that concludes a painstaking four-year trial, an Italian court today sentenced Giovanni Castellucci, the former chief executive of motorway operator Autostrade per l'Italia, to 12 years in prison for his role in the catastrophic 2018 collapse of the Morandi Bridge. The disaster, which claimed the lives of 43 people, laid bare severe systemic failures in Italy's infrastructure maintenance and has since become a symbol of the critical need for corporate accountability in public safety. The verdict brings a measure of justice to the families of victims who have tirelessly sought answers and responsibility for the tragedy that scarred the city of Genoa.

The Verdict: A Landmark Ruling

The sentencing of Castellucci, delivered on Thursday, July 16, 2026, marks the most significant judgment stemming from the Morandi Bridge collapse. He was found guilty of complicity in multiple counts of manslaughter through negligence, vehicle homicide, and negligence, reflecting the prosecution's argument that years of deferred maintenance and cost-saving measures directly contributed to the bridge's failure. The trial, which saw 57 defendants, culminated in 32 convictions, with other key figures also receiving substantial sentences. Among them, Michele Donferri Mitelli, Autostrade's former head of maintenance, was sentenced to 11 years, while Antonino Galata, former CEO of the SPEA engineering company, received five years and six months. This judicial outcome underscores a pivotal moment for Italy, establishing a precedent for holding high-ranking executives accountable for grave infrastructure failures.

The Catastrophe: Genoa's Darkest Day

On the morning of August 14, 2018, during a torrential rainstorm, a 210-meter section of the Ponte Morandi, a vital artery connecting northern Italy with the French Riviera, abruptly gave way. Dozens of vehicles, packed with travelers heading out for the traditional Ferragosto holiday, plunged 45 meters onto warehouses and a dry riverbed below, resulting in a horrific scene that shocked the world. The disaster claimed 43 lives and left 16 injured, transforming a key piece of infrastructure into a heap of twisted metal and concrete. The collapse triggered a massive rescue effort and a year-long state of emergency in the Liguria region, drawing immediate national and international attention to the precarious state of aging infrastructure.

A Legacy of Neglect: Decades of Warning Signs

The Morandi Bridge, officially known as Viadotto Polcevera, was an iconic cable-stayed structure built between 1963 and 1967. Hailed as an engineering marvel at its opening, it began exhibiting signs of structural distress, including cracking, spalling, and corrosion of its cable stays, as early as the 1970s. Engineering experts had reportedly determined in February 2018 that corrosion had reduced the bridge's strength by 20 percent. Despite these findings and documented warnings about its condition, including an inability to properly inspect concrete-encased cables, comprehensive and timely repairs were allegedly postponed or inadequately performed. Prosecutors argued that managers at Autostrade per l'Italia and its engineering subsidiary, SPEA, knew the bridge was unstable but prioritized cost-cutting over essential maintenance and safety. Allegations included decisions to postpone demolition and maintenance multiple times, despite known aging-related issues dating back to the 1980s.

Seeking Accountability: The Long Road to Justice

The judicial proceedings that followed the collapse were extensive and complex, spanning over 280 hearings across four years. Prosecutors meticulously presented evidence, contending that the tragedy was not an unforeseen accident but the direct consequence of negligent management and a corporate culture that neglected safety for profit. The victims' families played a crucial role in demanding justice, expressing a desire for their immense pain to be recognized and for accountability to extend beyond individual culpability. Earlier in the legal process, Autostrade per l'Italia and its subsidiary reached a corporate liability settlement of approximately €30 million, adopting new compliance procedures and compensating victims, which spared them from trial as corporate defendants. This settlement, however, did not absolve individual executives from criminal responsibility, culminating in today's severe sentences.

A Precedent for Future Safety

The sentencing of Giovanni Castellucci and others in the Morandi Bridge collapse case sends a powerful message about corporate responsibility and the imperative of prioritizing public safety in infrastructure management. The verdict aims to provide closure for the victims' families and establish a robust precedent for infrastructure maintenance and corporate governance not just in Italy, but globally. The disaster profoundly impacted public trust and sparked wider debate across Europe about the condition of aging infrastructure. While a new bridge, the Genoa-Saint George Bridge, designed by Renzo Piano, was inaugurated in August 2020 as a symbol of resilience and renewal, the memory of the Morandi Bridge collapse serves as a stark reminder of the human cost when oversight fails and maintenance is neglected. This ruling underscores that those entrusted with public safety will be held to the highest standards, ensuring that such a tragedy is never repeated.