Italy is preparing to break ground on the world’s longest suspension bridge, connecting the island of Sicily with the mainland across the Strait of Messina.
Construction is expected to begin by the end of this year, with officials targeting the early 2030s for completion.
The bridge, predicted to be a marvel of modern engineering, would link the Sicilian city of Messina to Calabria on the mainland with a central span exceeding three kilometres.
The ambitious project has captured the attention of Italy’s government and the European Union, both of which have committed financial support.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has expressed confidence in the project’s potential, calling it essential to bridging Italy’s economic divide between its prosperous north and the less developed south.
The EU has recently agreed to cover 50% of the rail infrastructure design costs, amounting to €25 million £20.7m), as part of a new grant agreement signed by the bridge’s construction company, Società Stretto di Messina, and the European Commission’s Climate, Infrastructure, and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA).
Supporters say the bridge would be a game-changer for Sicily, providing the region’s struggling economy with much-needed infrastructure.
Besides linking Italy’s north and south, the bridge would streamline cargo routes from the Suez Canal, allowing freight to be transferred more efficiently onto trains bound for northern Europe, significantly cutting costs and transport times.
Additionally, the bridge would alleviate the pressure on the Strait’s crowded ferry services, which currently shuttle cars, trucks, and trains across the water.
But the project faces considerable opposition, with critics citing the active seismic activity in the area, which raises questions about safety in this earthquake-prone region.
Environmental advocates warn that the bridge could disrupt local ecosystems and alter the landscape’s natural beauty.
With construction anticipated to begin by year’s end, Italy’s Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini said: “This is the government and legislature that have the ambition to lay the first stone and start building this blessed project.”
Salvini emphasized the financial savings of a permanent bridge over the costly ferry service, underscoring the bridge’s potential to reduce pollution, save time, and drive economic growth.
The bridge is estimated to cost €4.6 billion (£3.82bn), a massive sum partially offset by EU funding.
The design includes provisions for both road and rail traffic, with the bridge’s main span exceeding three kilometers, making it the world’s longest suspension bridge and a feat of modern engineering.
