On Wednesday, Italy’s government approved a €13.5 billion (£11.5 billion) project to construct the world’s longest suspension bridge, linking the island of Sicily to the mainland.
After decades of planning and controversy, a ministerial committee gave the final go-ahead for the state-funded bridge over the Strait of Messina, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini confirmed.
“It will be the longest single-span bridge in the world,” he declared during a press conference, describing it as a “development accelerator” for the economically disadvantaged regions of Sicily and Calabria.
The bridge’s design features two central railway lines flanked by three lanes of road traffic on either side. Its suspended span will stretch 3.3 kilometres (2.05 miles) between two towers, each 400 metres (1,300 feet) high — a global record.
Scheduled for completion by 2032, the government claims the bridge represents a feat of modern engineering, capable of withstanding strong winds and seismic activity in this geologically active area.
Ministers anticipate that the project will stimulate economic growth and employment. Salvini, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, stated that the scheme would generate tens of thousands of jobs.
However, the project has faced local opposition due to concerns over environmental damage and the high cost. Critics argue that the funds could be better allocated to other pressing needs.
Sceptics also doubt the bridge will ever come to fruition, citing Italy’s long-standing pattern of launching major public works that never reach completion.
Plans for the bridge date back over 50 years. The Eurolink consortium, led by Italian firm Webuild, initially won the contract in 2006, but authorities cancelled it following the eurozone debt crisis. Eurolink remains the contractor for the revived project.
This time, Rome has an added motive to proceed — it aims to classify the bridge’s cost as defence spending.
Italy, heavily burdened by debt, has pledged alongside other NATO members to significantly increase defence expenditure to five percent of GDP, as urged by former US President Donald Trump.
Up to 1.5 percent of this spending may cover “defence-related” infrastructure and cybersecurity. Rome hopes to include the Messina bridge under this category, especially since Sicily hosts a NATO base.