Official opening of Calatrava bridge stalled as tempers rise

Massimo Cacciari, The Mayor of Venice, announced with regret that there will be no official inauguration of Calatrava’s Quarto Ponte following a string of protests and rows over issues of accessibility and cost.

Venice Council and Italian disability associations have been at odds over the inadequacy and incomplete status of disabled access to the bridge. The administration feared protests would interfere with the official state presidential inauguration by President Giorgio Napolitano and have decided to open the bridge with no official event once all works are completed.

The original design by the Spanish architect did not include disabled access and in 2003 Prof. Paolo Costa, then Mayor of Venice, urged the architect to come up with a solution. At the time Calatrava suggested a ferry crossing as an alternative measure, later this resolved into a cable car solution that was approved and is currently in construction, now two months from completion. 
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