Italy has approved a massive 13.5 billion euro ($15.5 billion) infrastructure project to build the world’s longest suspension bridge linking the Italian mainland with Sicily. The Strait of Messina Bridge, which spans nearly 3.7 kilometers, will reduce travel time between the two islands from up to 100 minutes by ferry to just 10 minutes by car.
Transport Minister Matteo Salvini described the project as “the biggest infrastructure project in the West” and said it would create 120,000 jobs annually and accelerate economic growth in southern Italy. Preliminary work is expected to begin late September or early October, with construction starting next year and completion forecast for 2032-2033.
The bridge has been approved despite concerns over its environmental impact and potential mafia interference. Environmental groups have lodged complaints with the EU, citing concerns about migratory birds and environmental damage. However, Transport Minister Salvini assured that anti-mafia measures would be in place to prevent organized crime from affecting the project.
Salvini also confirmed that the bridge could count towards Italy’s NATO spending target and would provide a strategic corridor for rapid troop movements and equipment deployment. The project has been awarded to a consortium led by Webuild, which emphasizes that suspension bridges are structurally less vulnerable to seismic forces.
The construction of the Strait of Messina Bridge is a long-awaited project that has been revived after several delays since 1969. Premier Giorgia Meloni’s administration initially revived the project in 2023, marking the furthest stage it has ever reached.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/italy-messina-bridge-sicily-calabria-meloni-nato-1a19e957e303c46ff51214d54a2dc6d7