Italy’s Webuild Begins Recruitment for Messina Strait Bridge Project
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Italian construction giant Webuild on Friday launched recruitment for the long-delayed Messina Strait Bridge, a 13.5-billion-euro project to connect Sicily with the mainland via what will be the world’s longest suspension bridge.
Transport Minister Matteo Salvini said in September that the government would respond to the Audit Court’s “perplexities” over the project before work begins later this year, slightly behind schedule. The plan received final approval from the government’s economic planning committee, CIPESS, on August 6.
According to Salvini, the bridge could open to traffic by 2032 or 2033. The scheme foresees the construction of a 3.3-kilometre suspension bridge, some 40 kilometres of new road and rail links, three train stations, and a business hub in Calabria.
Originally promoted by late former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, the project has faced decades of delays amid concerns over costs, environmental impact, seismic risks, and potential mafia infiltration. The first designs date back more than 50 years. Salvini revived the initiative following the centre-right coalition’s 2022 election victory.
In a statement Friday, Webuild said the venture “represents an opportunity for thousands of jobs in Calabria and Sicily.” The company added that while awaiting the Court of Auditors’ final decision, it was “accelerating human resources efforts, focusing on training and hiring to build a team of professionals and young talent ready to contribute to a project that will change the face of Southern Italy and the entire country.”
