Fifty-nine people face a variety of charges including manslaughter and safety failures.

The defendants include former executives and experts of the company that manages many of Italy’s bridges and roads, as well as former officials of the Italian ministry of infrastructure and transport.

A huge section of the Morandi Bridge broke off during a violent rainstorm on August 14 2018, when roads were packed with holidaymakers, sending cars plunging into the dry riverbed below.

Prosecutors have alleged the defendants knew the bridge, which was built in the 1960s, was at risk of collapsing and that corners were cut on maintenance to save money.

The bridge’s designer had recommended regular upkeep to remove rust, especially due to the corrosive effect of moist air from the nearby Ligurian Sea, and maintenance to counter the effect of pollution on concrete.

“There are elements that prove that, since 2013, it was written in documents that the Morandi bridge was at risk of collapsing,” said Egle Possetti, a member of the committee of relatives of Morandi victims who attended the hearing.

“In five years, nothing was done. This is unacceptable. So we will fight, as relatives and civil parties, so that this trial will give justice to our families and respect for the dead who aren’t here,” Ms Possetti added.

The disaster has been blamed on cables, encased in concrete in a bridge pillar, which became corroded by sea air. Many of the 59 on trial worked for Italian motorway firm Autostrade per Italia (Aspi) and Spea engineering company, which was responsible for looking after the bridge.

In April, a Genoa judge approved plea bargain requests by both Aspi and Spea to pay €29 million (£25m) to the Italian government in exchange for avoiding a trial.

After an hour of procedural motions, Judge Paolo Lepri adjourned the proceedings and set a new hearing for September 14 in a trial that is expected to take more than a year to reach any verdicts, the Lapresse news agency reported.