The Italian government has granted final approval for the construction of a €13.5bn bridge linking Sicily to the mainland, set to become the longest single-span bridge in the world. The project, which has been debated since the 1960s, was given the green light by an inter-ministerial committee on Wednesday, according to Transport Minister Matteo Salvini.
The 3.7km bridge across the Strait of Messina is expected to take ten years to build, with work potentially beginning in September or October. Salvini expressed optimism that the bridge would be completed by 2032–33, describing it as “a metro over the strait”. The approval still requires validation by the national audit court, which may take a few weeks.
The bridge will be constructed by a consortium led by Italy’s Webuild Group, including Spain’s Sacyr and Japan’s IHI. Webuild CEO Pietro Salini said the project would be “transformative for the whole country” and estimated it would create more than 100,000 jobs. The government argues the bridge will boost the economy of southern Italy.
Concerns remain over seismic risks, environmental impact, and potential mafia infiltration. Salvini stated that countering criminal infiltration would be the government’s “raison d’être” and that the bridge would not be built if the mafia becomes involved. Environmental groups have filed a complaint with the EU, and local protests continue over expropriation plans affecting around 4,000 people.
