A bridge on a normally busy provincial road in northern Italy has collapsed, but, with virtually no traffic due to the coronavirus lockdown, only two truck drivers suffered minor injuries.

Key points: The bridge, dating back to 1908, had been rebuilt after World War II

The bridge, dating back to 1908, had been rebuilt after World War II It would normally have been busy with midweek traffic

It would normally have been busy with midweek traffic In 2018, the collapse of a motorway bridge in Genoa killed 43 people

The local fire brigade said the 260-metre bridge on the SS330 road near the town of Aulla, roughly midway between Genoa and Florence, collapsed on Wednesday morning.

Although casualties were limited, the collapse highlighted the poor state of Italy's road network.

In 2018 a motorway bridge in the port city of Genoa collapsed, killing 43 people.

Sections of the bridge across the river Magra collapsed to the level of the water, buckling a stretch of road behind it.

The lockdown to halt the spread of the coronavirus meant the heavy midweek traffic that might normally have been using the bridge was absent, and only two vehicles were involved.

The two drivers were taken to hospital with minor injuries, a fire brigade spokesman said.

The road involved in Wednesday's incident had been repaired after bad weather in November. ( AP: Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse )

A fire brigade team helped by dogs inspected the debris of the concrete bridge, dating back to 1908 and rebuilt after World War II, but did not find any other vehicles.

The bridge used to be managed by provincial authorities before being put under the management of ANAS, a company controlled by state-owned railway group Ferrovie dello Stato, in 2018.

It had undergone periodic safety checks since last year, ANAS said in a statement.

ANAS said it was investigating the causes of the collapse.

The poor maintenance of Italy's roads and bridges, and mismanagement of its highway network, has been a major political issue since the collapse of the bridge in Genoa.

The road involved in Wednesday's incident had been repaired after bad weather in November.

Reuters