Government strikes deal over bridge collapse

The Italian government has claimed victory in a battle stemming from the deadly 2018 collapse of Genoa’s main bridge.

It comes after the Benetton fashion family agreed to exit the holding company that manages and maintains most of Italy’s toll roads and bridges.

Italian premier Giuseppe Conte announced the agreement nearly two years after 43 people died in the collapse of the Morandi Bridge, a disaster that has been blamed on poor maintenance.

The deal avoids the possibility that the government could revoke the concession Autostade per l’italia has to manage most of Italy’s toll roads and bridges, which it had threatened to do in the immediate aftermath of the collapse. Such a revocation would have proved financially disastrous for the company, and probably have led to years of costly legal battles.

Mr Conte said as part of the deal, Autostrade has agreed to become a public company and to pay €3.4 billion (£3.1bn) in compensation.