MILAN, January 22, 2019 – The countdown to the completion of the installation of the piers for the new Genoa bridge has begun with the 14th of a total of 18 being completed. Work running in parallel has led to the seventh section of the structure’s deck being set into place on the east bank of the river as the PERGENOVA joint-venture between Salini Impregilo and Fincantieri Infrastructure becomes a point of reference for projects done in record time.

Described by architect Renzo Piano as an “extraordinary sculpture of concrete 40 metres high”, the piers, like all the parts made of reinforced concrete, are being installed by Salini Impregilo, which will also take care of the paving of the road atop the bridge. Of the four of the total of 18 piers that remain to be raised, one of them is being set on the west bank of the river where access to the A10 highway is located.

On the ground, workers are preparing the next deck sections to be installed. The latest to be put into place – the seventh - is on the east side of Parco Compasso between Piers 15 and 16. It is 33 metres high and, with its four side sections, weighs 560 tonnes. It brings to 350 metres the combined length of the sections installed so far. The sections are made by Fincantieri at its plants in Valeggio sul Mincio, Castellammare di Stabia and Sestri Ponente.

Once completed, the bridge will have 67,000 cubic metres of concrete, the same volume as 1.5 Empire State Buildings. It will also be smart and sustainable, thanks to solar panels to generate the electricity needed to power its lights, sensors and other systems that will help provide a constant monitoring of the structure. There will also be robots to inspect its soundness and conduct regular maintenance.