Monaco is seeking several million euros to help Ventimiglia rebuild the bridge swept away by storm Alex
A Monegasque association is appealing for donations to enable the Ventimiglia pedestrian bridge to cross the Roya again.
More than two years later, it is the only damage still visible from storm Alex in Ventimiglia (Italy). A symbolic damage too: the bridge which spanned the Roya to connect the two parts of the city was a place of passage and photos for tourists.
It now stops in the middle of the river. Part of the structure did not resist the current and the waves of the Roya during the night of October 2 to 3, 2020.
10 million euros
Its rebirth will perhaps come thanks to the help of another country: Monaco, as our colleagues of monegasque morning. Last year, the association “Friends of the bridge” was created. Objective: to collect funds from the Monegasque Italian community in particular and help finance the 10 million euros necessary for the reconstruction of the structure and the fortification of the banks.
It’s something emblematic, symbolic in the city that allows pedestrians to cross the river to reach the city. This reconstruction must be done in a way that it cannot be destroyed in the future.
Aleco Keusseoglou – President of the association “Friends of the bridge”
This financial assistance is not really a surprise. The Principality has already invested in Ventimiglia by purchasing the 85-year concession for its “Cala del forte” port. Monaco has also come to the aid of the Italian city to help it rebuild after the passage of storm Alex and has already donated 500,000 euros for the reconstruction of the bridge.
We are very honored to receive help from the prince again but also touched by the mobilization of the Monegasques that we would like to ask for. This is further proof of the friendship that has bound us for years.
Gaetano Scullino, Mayor of Ventimiglia
A call for European projects launched for the reconstruction of the bridge
The municipality has already launched a call for projects and a company will be chosen later at the end of July 2022, “no matter the amount of aid, we pay what is left of the 10 million euros to rebuild this bridge which is essential for the inhabitants of the city”says Gaetano Scullino.
It is a total of 10 million euros that will have to be spent, including 7 for the bridge itself and 3 to neglect the banks and avoid at all costs that this place of passage which rests the two parts of the city is again destroy. Work should begin in September 2022 for a period of about a year and a half.