Italy Greenlights World's Longest Suspension Bridge Project to Link Mainland to Sicily

Italy has cleared the way to build the world's largest suspension bridge, the Strait of Messina Bridge, which will link the mainland with Sicily. The 13.5 billion euro project will create 120,000 jobs a year, accelerate growth in southern Italy, and reduce travel time across the strait from 100 minutes to 10 minutes. Preliminary work is expected to begin in late September, with construction starting next year and completion expected between 2032 and 2033. The bridge will surpass Türkiye's Çanakkale Bridge, currently the longest, by 1,277 meters.

Italy's government has cleared the way for the construction of the Strait of Messina Bridge, a landmark project that will link the Italian mainland with Sicily. The approval, given by the Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning and Sustainable Development (CIPESS), marks a significant step forward for the long-delayed and debated bridge.

The project, with an estimated cost of 13.5 billion euros ($15.5 billion), is set to create around 120,000 jobs annually, according to the Ministry of Transport. It is expected to accelerate economic growth in southern Italy and reduce travel time across the Strait of Messina from the current 100 minutes to just 10 minutes.

The bridge will measure nearly 3.7 kilometers (2.3 miles) in length, with a suspended span of 3.3 kilometers (some two miles). This makes it the world's longest suspension bridge, surpassing Türkiye's Çanakkale Bridge by 1,277 meters (4,189 feet). The bridge will accommodate four lanes of traffic and a double-track railway, with a capacity to carry 6,000 vehicles an hour and 200 trains a day.

Preliminary work is expected to begin in late September, with construction slated to start in 2024 and completion projected for 2032. The project has faced numerous challenges, including concerns over earthquakes, environmental impacts, and the threat of mafia interference. However, the government has assured that these issues will be addressed.

The approval of the project has been seen as a political victory for Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, who has made the realization of the bridge a hallmark of his tenure. He has stated that the bridge will be "an accelerator for development" in southern Italy.

The project has been awarded to a consortium led by WeBuild, an Italian infrastructure group that initially won the bid in 2006. The consortium also includes Spanish group Sacyr and Japanese group IHI. WeBuild has extensive experience in building suspension bridges, having constructed the Canakkale Bridge, which is currently the longest suspension bridge at 2 kilometers and 23 meters (about a mile and a quarter).

Despite the approval, the project continues to face opposition from environmental groups and some citizens' groups, who question the wisdom of building such a bridge in an earthquake zone. Environmental studies have not demonstrated that the project is a public imperative, and there are concerns that the bridge could impact migratory birds.

The project has also been classified as defense-related, which could help Italy meet its NATO target of raising defense spending to 5% of GDP. However, this classification has been opposed by a group of over 600 professors and researchers, who argue that additional assessments are needed to ensure the bridge can withstand military use.

The final approval by CIPESS allows for the start of preliminary works, including archaeological and geological surveys, and land expropriations. The bridge is expected to be open to train and car traffic 24/7, 365 days a year, ensuring a more efficient, safe, and modern connection system between Sicily, Calabria, and the rest of the continent.

References:

[1] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/italy-messina-bridge-15-5-billion-construction-worlds-longest-suspension-span-sicily-to-mainland/
[2] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/italy-gives-final-go-ahead-landmark-sicily-bridge-project-2025-08-06/
[3] https://www.unionesarda.it/en/italy/strait-of-messina-bridge-final-project-approved-costs-and-schedule-what-you-need-to-know-quot-there39-s-also-a-subwayquot-f8syelm6