Italy is getting a better idea how much it will cost to replace the collapsed Ponte Morandi bridge in Genoa, although who will do the rebuilding is unclear.

"The reconstruction will cost between 150 and 200 Million Euros, while 10-12 Million will be necessary for the demolition of the old one and more funds should be granted to families and shopkeepers affected by the disaster," said Liguria region governor Giovanni Toti, who has been appointed  coordinator for the bridge disaster relief.

On 14 August, a 210-meter stretch of the Ponte Morandi as well as one of its towers collapsed into the Polcevera River and the surrounding industrial area.  As many as 35 cars and three trucks fell from the bridge, killing 43 people and leaving 16 with various injuries.

Mr. Toti, a member of the Forza Italia party - part of the conservative opposition to the populist/far-right coalition government - envisions a consortium to rebuild the bridge:  State-owned Fincatieri "will have the leadership of the reconstruction, together with a group of companies that will also include Autostrade (per l'Italia)".  The latter is the private company that managed the bridge and has been blamed by many for last month's disaster. 

This idea conflicts with the wishes of the government.  Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli has said that Autostrade should pay for the rebuild, but shouldn't be involved beyond that, and criticized Toti's decision.  Toti replied via social media, "A ministry that was not able to supervise infrastructure as it should have cannot block local authorities who are working efficiently on behalf of their citizens."

But despite that awesome twitter burn, much of the public's attention is focused on the wave of privatization in the 1990's that dismantled Italy's state-owned infrastructure in favor of the free market.  In this case, 51 percent of Italy's roadways are controlled by Autostrade per l'Italia, which is controlled by one of the country's biggest private holding companies, Edizione.  That, in turn, is owned by the wealthy and powerful Benetton family - yep, the colorful sweater people.  It turns out that when knitwear profits fell off in the 1990s, the four heirs who control the family fortune branched out into infrastructure.

The anti-establishment Five Star Movement is the biggest party in government, and it talking about putting an end to what it calls crony capitalism. 

"It's a racket", said Five Star Movement founder Beppe Grillo, "The motorways must be free.  We haven't paid taxes for years to make Benetton and co. rich."

Deputy prime minister and Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio eachoed that, saying that nationalizing the roads is the "only solution".

The critics say Autostrade has reaped enormous profits by feeding at the public trough while investing little back into the roads it was supposed to care for.  And this didn't start with the collapse of the Ponte Morandi. 

In July 2013, a bus went through the guard rails of a Autostrade-managed viaduct near Naples.  It plunged 30 meters and crashed, killing 40 of the 50 passengers.  Prosecutors said the company had negligently allowed the bolts on the guard rails to rust through, and charged several Autostrade personnel including chief executive Giovanni Castellucci.  The company denies the charges.

A judgment is this case is due in December; but with appeals, it could go on for years.