Construction of the long-debated bridge over the Strait of Messina, designed to connect Sicily to mainland Italy, could begin by the end of summer, Transport Minister and Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini said Monday. The timeline hinges on final approval from the Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning and Sustainable Development (CIPESS), expected by the end of June.
The bridge, which would become the world’s longest suspension span at 3.2 kilometers (approximately 2 miles), is projected to be completed by 2032, according to Webuild CEO Pietro Salini. The total investment for the project — which includes 40 kilometers of road and rail infrastructure, three new train stations, and a business center in Calabria — is estimated at €13.5 billion.
At a recent conference, Salvini touted the project as not only a critical infrastructure upgrade but also a major economic and social opportunity for southern Italy. He also dismissed criticism over potential mafia involvement in construction, describing the bridge initiative as “the biggest anti-mafia operation imaginable.”
“According to the company’s estimates, it will create more than 100,000 jobs,” Salvini said. “The mafia thrives where there is desperation and unemployment. The bridge will bring work, wealth, and beauty. It will also cut emissions, making it one of the greenest bridges in the world.”
The Messina Bridge has been a subject of political and public debate for decades. First proposed under the government of the late Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, the project has faced repeated delays over concerns about cost, environmental impact, and organized crime infiltration — notably by the ’Ndrangheta in Calabria and Cosa Nostra in Sicily.
The current design has undergone several revisions, including a recent change to increase its height, allowing passage for cruise ships beneath the span. If completed, it would surpass Turkey’s 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, which currently holds the record for the world’s longest suspension bridge at 2,023 meters (6,637 feet).
The Messina Bridge remains a key element of the government’s broader push to modernize Italy’s infrastructure and stimulate economic growth in the underdeveloped southern regions.
Photo: Artist’s impression of Messina Bridge/Webuild
Source: ANSA
