Italy: Two die as motorway bridge collapses near Ancona

[bing101]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39218467


The Overpass collapsed according to sources.

[Chris]

The overpass was undergoing reconstruction, evidently it was jacked up when the collapse occurred.

[Brian556]

So, they just set concrete barriers in a traffic lane without any channelization devices before them?

[mgk920]

So, they just set concrete barriers in a traffic lane without any channelization devices before them?

Italian motorways are renowned for short, tight merges and narrow lanes.

Mike

[Chris]

Yes, in Italy you'll notice that the median barrier is generally almost on the edge of a driving lane.

Though full left shoulders are uncommon almost anywhere in Europe. Usually it's some 0.5 - 1.5 m (2-5 ft). Left shoulders seem to be a North American design standard. The Netherlands also mandated it with motorway design standards (if there are 4 or more lanes in one direction) but in most cases they've been turned into driving lanes or omitted due to cost.