RENEWED URGENCY

Hundreds of French Bridges ‘at Risk of Collapse’

The government is under pressure to disclose which ones are damaged after dozens were killed when a bridge collapsed in Italy.

More than 800 French bridges are “at risk of collapse” if they are not reinforced, French media has warned, citing a Transport Ministry report. The report, from July, has taken on a new urgency after 43 people were killed when a bridge in Italy collapsed last week. It says about 840 bridges, a third of which are under state control, show signs of damage that could signal an imminent collapse. The government, under pressure to disclose which bridges could be affected, has sought to play down the risks. A Transport Ministry official told France Info radio that “no structures will be open to the public if they are not completely safe.” “Action will be taken immediately” if there is even “the slightest risk” of collapse, the official said.