I was overloaded with the Genoa investigation

ETH-Zurich Professor Bernhard Elsener is one of the three experts that have been entrusted in the last autumn, with the assessment of the bridge no fall of Genoa. Most recently, he came in for criticism, such as the "Blick" reported. This because he said in the Ticino television, the Morandi bridge would still be, if all the carriers would parts been strengthened. With these statements of the expert, who is also the President of the municipality of Rüschlikon was, in the opinion of the lawyers of the accused and the competent state attorney. Elsener should therefore, according to Italian media, the mandate reports be removed from a measure, that he comes now with his resignation instrumentation before.

you said in last September, it was a great honor and recognition for your work to be a bridge expert to Genoa have been called. Now listen, why?
I was overloaded. I am a Professor in Sardinia. From February until the end of June I'll be there every second week Lectures. The other week I had to go to Genoa. But I wanted to be at home, not least of all, I am also President of the municipal Council in Rüschlikon, a post which makes me happy.

It should also have pressure tests on you.
Yes, there were discussions with lawyers. But that was only the trigger. The reason for my resignation time. If I had continued to work as an expert, I would be gone in a Burnout. I felt the strain physically.

"I assumed that I would be moved especially for the study of the beige. But we had to debris analysis."

Was the extent of the work is not foreseeable?
I thought, at Christmas, the work was done. When I was appointed last September, I assumed that I would be moved especially for the study of the beige. However, we had to secure the wreckage and analyze it, then the parts of the broken Morandi-bridge watch and document so that they can be used in a court process.

The work is not so as far as you originally planned?
It is still important to secure evidence, and not to the question of the cause. The investigation can take a long time.

What happened with the opinion of the Empa in dübendorf?
The Swiss materials testing Institute Empa has submitted the expert report by the deadline in December. However, it is still under lock and key. Everything remains a secret until the litigation is completed. The Empa has not received any follow-up orders in connection with the Morandi bridge. The bridge parts have been delivered to dübendorf for the investigation, have already been before Christmas, sent back.

you have been contracted as expert in the least because they are, as a Swiss independent. So, what's next?
My two colleagues with whom I worked very well together, are just as independent as I am. Here there is no danger.

"The colleagues with whom I have worked well together, and are just as independent as I am. Here there is no danger."

Would you accept such a task again if they were asked?
Due to the experience and the high temporal load only when the end is clearly defined.

How does it look now in Genoa at the scene of the incident?
Currently, the demolition work on the West side of the bridge. On the East side of the two pillars are still standing.

In a year's time, we hope to have a new bridge. You believe in it?
If you speak in Genoa, with the people, no one believes it. (Tages-Anzeiger)

Created: 02.05.2019, 09:14 PM