Italy Greenlights €13.5 Billion Messina Bridge Project Connecting Sicily and Calabria

Italy has given its definitive green light to a colossal €13.5 billion project to construct the world’s longest suspension bridge, a monumental undertaking set to link the island of Sicily with the Calabrian mainland. The Messina Bridge, a long-held ambition for the nation, received final approval, despite a history of shelved plans and ongoing fierce opposition.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, acknowledging the project’s complex past, described it as a crucial “investment in Italy’s present and future.” Transport Minister Matteo Salvini celebrated the milestone, projecting a 2032-2033 completion and the creation of 120,000 jobs annually in two of Europe’s poorest regions. The ambitious design features a 3.3km span between two 400-meter towers, accommodating both rail lines and multiple traffic lanes. Designers assert the bridge, located in a seismically active zone, will be earthquake-resistant.

However, the path forward is still fraught with challenges. The project requires further endorsement from the Italian Court of Auditors and environmental agencies at both national and EU levels. Local residents whose properties may be expropriated are due for consultation and could legally contest the decision, potentially causing delays.

The bridge has faced decades of opposition, fueled by concerns over its immense cost, potential environmental damage, safety issues, and fears of mafia infiltration siphoning off taxpayer money. Local politicians, including Senator Nicola Irto, have voiced strong disapproval, arguing the project diverts vital resources from essential local services like healthcare and infrastructure. Grassroots groups, such as Calabria’s “No to the Bridge” committee, criticized the announcement as a political maneuver, highlighting concerns over the bridge’s significant water consumption in drought-prone regions.

Despite the controversies and the long road ahead, Rome’s final approval marks a significant step towards realizing a project that aims to transform connectivity in southern Italy, currently reliant on a 30-minute ferry journey for train crossings.

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