Effetti del cambiamento climatico sui ponti in ferro: il caso del ponte sul fiume Po a Cremona

This contribution provides a projection on the future state of conservation of metal bridges in Northern Italy, with specific reference to the bridge over the Po River between Cremona and Castelvetro Piacentino, in a time horizon spanning 2071 to 2100. Following a historical overview aimed at defining the state of the art, the current conservation status of the bridge is analysed, focusing on the main decay forms observed during site inspections, and documented photographically. In light of climate change, which can increase the vulnerability of cultural heritage both through gradual variations in climatic factors and through the increasingly frequent rise of extreme events (landslides, floods, intense precipitation), the study uses climatic maps developed through the «ProteCHt2Save» platform to define risk scenarios in relation to rising temperatures and intensifying storm events. From a pessimistic and long-term perspective, the impacts of the evolution of corrosion and biological colonization on the metallic structure are evaluated, along with potential hydrogeological issues. Finally, estimates are provided on the level of vulnerability of the bridge, alongside procedures in place to ensure its efficiency and safety over time.