Operator takes flak for collapse

ITALY’S biggest toll road operator came under heavy stock-market attack yesterday after Rome criticised it for a deadly bridge collapse this week, moving to revoke its concession and accusing it of failing to ensure the viaduct’s safety. An 80-metre-long section of the bridge, part of a freeway linking the port city of Genoa with southern France, gave way on Tuesday in busy lunchtime traffic, sending dozens of vehicles into free-fall and killing at least 38 people. Autostrade per l’Italia, part of Milan-listed international toll-road group Atlantia and owned by Italy’s Benetton family, operated the freeway. It has said it made regular and thorough safety checks on the 1.2 km-long bridge, completed in 1967 and overhauled two years ago. But the government has turned on Autostrade for the disaster, threatening it with heavy fines.