国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Italys Genoa mulls solutions to minimize bridge collapse impact_时事

国际英语资讯:Spotlight: Italys Genoa mulls solutions to minimize bridge collapse impact

This would partially counter-balance the lack of the collapsed viaduct in the short period, accepting that minor traffic disruption might still occur.

In the medium term, the mayor of Genoa said the goal was to rebuild the collapsed bridge.

"Without being too optimistic, I think this can be done over a period of two years," Bucci told Xinhua.

"We are thinking about a steel structure, and discussing the idea with our technical staff. There seem to be good chances."

The costs for such a project, the mayor said, could not be estimated yet.

IMPLICATIONS AT NATIONAL LEVEL

Beyond its vital role for Genoa, the Morandi Bridge was inserted in a viability system crucial for the whole northwest Italy. Finding a solution after Tuesday's disaster was therefore relevant at national level as well.

Before collapsing, in fact, the viaduct carried the A10 highway running along the coastline to France, and it received traffic flows from the A26 highway coming from northwest Piedmont region, and from the A7 highway connecting to Italy's major economic hub Milan.

The A26 and A7 respectively lead to Voltri and Sampierdarena port basins.

The possible wider impact of the bridge is also linked to the relevance of the port system. Some 69 million tonnes of cargo are annually handled in Genoa's 30 specialized terminals -- with China alone accounting for about 35 percent of such volume -- according to the Port Authority.