Italy has granted final approval for an ambitious €13.5 billion ($15.6 billion) project to construct the world's longest suspension bridge, linking the island of Sicily with Calabria at the southern tip of the Italian peninsula. This major infrastructure initiative, the brainchild of Messina Strait company designers, is proposed to withstand earthquakes, as it will be built in a region known for seismic activity.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who acknowledged that the project has faced numerous challenges, described it as an "investment in Italy's present and future". The bridge will stretch 3.3 kilometers (about 2.05 miles), featuring two towers soaring 400 meters (1,300 feet) high and comprising two railway lines and three lanes of traffic on either side.
Transport Minister Matteo Salvini celebrated the announcement, indicating the government aims for the bridge's completion between 2032 and 2033. He projected that the construction would create approximately 120,000 jobs annually, while boosting the economies of the underdeveloped regions of Sicily and Calabria.
However, before construction begins, the project must secure approval from Italy's Court of Auditors and environmental agencies at both national and EU levels. Local stakeholders, especially in areas where properties may be expropriated, will be consulted and may challenge the decision in court, posing risks of delays.
The Messina Bridge project has experienced struggles for over 50 years, often halted due to financial, environmental, and safety concerns, coupled with fears of mafia siphoning off taxpayer monies. Responses from local political figures have been mixed, with some, like Senator Nicola Irto of the Democratic Party, calling it "controversial and divisive." Many locals, such as Villa San Giovanni's mayor, have voiced concerns about adverse effects on their communities.
Additionally, grassroots opposition groups argue that the bridge's construction would divert critical resources away from essential local infrastructure and deplete water supplies in a region plagued by drought. Currently, trains cross the Strait of Messina via ferries, in a 30-minute journey, which the new bridge aims to replace.
