Failures　of　structures　are　often　tragic　events,　however　represent　an　opportunity　to　improve　the　understanding　of　phenomena.　In　this　paper,　after　the　review　of　Bridge　collapses,　on　August　14,　2018,　the　history　of　Polcevera　Bridge　is　presented,　starting　from　aging　considerations　done　by　its　designer　Riccardo　Morandi　in　1981,　analyzing　the　outcomes　of　inspections　in　the　years　from　mid　‘80s　with　references　to　Italian　Regulations　on　inspections,　the　interventions　done　during　bridge　life,　and　finally　some　considerations　on　its　collapse.　The　case　is　certainly　a　reference　for　reinforced　concrete　bridges　built　just　after　the　2nd　world　war　in　a　highly　corrosion-prone　environment　due　to　nearby　sea　and　industrial　as　well　as　chloride　pollution.　Large　reference　is　done　to　data　included　into　the　Report　of　the　Commission　of　Italian　Ministry　of　Infrastructures　for　the　failure　of　Polcevera　Bridge.　Monitoring　for　assessment　of　performance　decay　due　to　corrosion　is　discussed　with　reference　to　the　meaningful　example　considered.　©　2020,　Springer-Verlag　GmbH　Germany,　part　of　Springer　Nature.