ARCUS — Bridge Failure Research

ARCUS Atlas record

Bridge over Rio Piaro

Total collapse of a cycle-pedestrian bridge over the Rio Piaro near Campiglia Cervo (Biella, Piemonte) on 5 June 2002, part of the major Valle Cervo flood event. Total collapse during the major flood event that struck the Valle Cervo and Biellese on 5 June 2002. The Cervo river and its tributaries (Rio Ara, Rio Borghesi, Rio Piaro) overflowed catastrophically, destroying multiple bridges on 5 June 2002. The 2002 alluvione is documented as one of the two major flood events in the Cervo valley's modern history alongside the devastating 1968 flood (58 deaths). No fatalities or injuries were reported from this specific collapse. ARPA Piemonte, Quaderno n.19 'Evento alluvionale del 4-6 giugno 2002 nel territorio biellese' (2004): la carta dei processi del rio Piaro (colata di detrito con violento trasporto in massa che ostrui' la SP100 e invase il concentrico) mappa un 'ponte asportato' in corrispondenza dell'asta; nello stesso comune il rapporto documenta anche la demolizione di un ponte pedonale sul rio degli Ondini in loc. Migliacco: la corrispondenza puntuale della scheda va verificata tra i due.

ARCUS ID
IT02.06.04
Date
2002-06-05
Municipality
Campiglia Cervo
Province
Biella
Region
Piemonte
Coordinates
45.6641, 7.9984 · exact location
Crossing
Rio Piaro
Use
Cycle-pedestrian
Severity
TC
Structural type
Beam bridge
Material
Reinforced concrete
Cause category
Natural
Specific cause
Hydraulic
Failure trigger
Flood
Failure process
Debris flow / solid transport
Component involved
Entire structure
Cause evidence
Probable
Source confidence
High
Victims
0
Injuries
0

Documentary sources (3)

  1. Eventi alluvionali in Piemonte (Official/Technical · ARPA Piemonte · 2003-12-09)
  2. 5 giugno 2002 – violento nubifragio: Netro e Campiglia Cervo isolate per crollo ponti (News · BiellaClub · 2002-06-05)
  3. Bridge collapses in Italy across the 21st century: survey and statistical analysis (Scientific · Journal Paper · 2025-01-01)

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