On 14 August 2018, a motorway bridge in Genoa connecting Italy to southern France collapsed, sending vehicles plummeting 50 metres to the ground and killing 43 people. Italy’s motorway operator Autostrade was responsible for the maintenance of the 51-year-old bridge and was ultimately blamed by the government for the disaster. Italy’s biggest builder Salini Impregilo and shipbuilder Fincantieri have been awarded the contract for the reconstruction of the bridge, which has been designed by Genoa-born Renzo Piano.