Too many bridges have collapsed in Italy in recent years, including one the was opened only 10 days before it collapsed.
The Genoa's bridge that collapsed to-day, with a more than 30 death toll, was opened in 1967: 50 years ago.
In it's life it had been subject of many maintenance works, maybe it was not well designed, but the problem is a money problem:
The bridge is part of a privately managed highway (on State concession). You pay a toll for using this "autostrada", and every year the private owned Company ask for a toll increase, but the state approves it only if they have spent money in safety and maintence.
The trick is simple: they own the Companies that make the maintenance work, so they spend a lot of money from one pocket, and put it in the other pocket.. The State allows for the toll's increase, and people pays...
Was the work "state of the art"? It really does not matter.
I, like Zucca, I'm very sad.