Messina Strait Bridge Project Advances as Final Plans Sent for Government Approval
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Stretto di Messina, the company responsible for overseeing the construction of a bridge across the Strait of Messina to link Sicily with mainland Italy, announced on Tuesday that its board of directors has approved the documentation to be submitted to the CIPESS economic planning committee. This represents the final procedural step before the project can receive definitive authorization to commence construction.
The company confirmed that the total cost of the project remains set at €13.5 billion, encompassing not only the bridge itself but also 40 kilometers of connecting road and rail infrastructure, the development of three new railway stations, and the establishment of a business center in Calabria.
If the process proceeds according to schedule, the bridge—anticipated to be the longest suspension bridge in the world—is projected to be completed by 2032, according to Pietro Salini, CEO of Webuild, the firm leading the consortium entrusted with the project.
Originally championed by the late three-time Prime Minister and media magnate Silvio Berlusconi, the initiative was shelved for years due to financial constraints, environmental concerns, and potential risks of mafia infiltration.
However, the project was revived by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini, following the centre-right coalition’s victory in the 2022 general election.
In May, Italy’s largest trade union, CGIL, submitted a formal request to the European Commission urging it to revoke its endorsement of the project, citing what it described as “serious technical, environmental, regulatory, and social concerns.”
