The Italian company that manages the Polcevera bridge on the A10 motorway, a portion of which collapsed August 14, approved more than $570 million in initial funding to help those affected by the disaster and to pay for a new steel bridge.

A section of the Morandi bridge collapsed on August 14, killing 43 people.Autostrade per l’Italia’s board members agreed on an initial list of proposed, self-funded initiatives. Their pledge came one week after a section of the bridge fell, killing 43 people. The bridge is part of a major highway that runs along Italy's western coast to the French border.

The bridge was built between 1963 and 1967 and was designed by Italian engineer Riccardo Morandi. It was popularly called the Morandi bridge.

The Polcevera viaduct had a length of 1,102 m (3,615 ft), a height of 45 m (148 ft) on the road level and three reinforced concrete piers that rose 90 m (300 ft) in height. The maximum span was 210 m (690 ft).

Engineering360 earlier reported that major repairs were made to the bridge between 1992 and 1994 after inspections showed that concrete stays had degraded, particularly around a bridge element known as pylon 11. A general restoration project was taken on, including structurally reinforcing the concrete stays of pylon 11.

The cause of the bridge's collapse remains under investigation, and there was no indication as to whether the 25-year-old repairs were a factor.

The initial reconstruction plan includes rebuilding the bridge "in steel according to the most modern technologies." News reports say that the board believes this can be done in about eight months. Funding also would help pay to build alternative roadways to mitigate traffic and to set up funds to support victims' families and displaced residents.

Autostrade per l’Italia’s parent company, Atlantia, said in a press release that "these measures have Atlantia's full support."