An Italian megaproject aiming to construct the world's longest suspension bridge has hit a fresh legal obstacle, casting new doubt on a plan that has captivated and divided the nation for generations. The proposed Messina Bridge, designed to link Sicily with the Italian mainland, received formal government approval in August 2025 but was stalled last month by a ruling from the country's Court of Auditors.
A Colossal Vision with Major Benefits for Brits
If eventually built, the bridge would be a monumental feat of engineering. Spanning the Strait of Messina, it would stretch for an incredible 3.3 kilometres (2.05 miles). The design features twin towers reaching 400 metres high, with three road lanes on each side flanking two central railway lines.
For British tourists and travellers, the impact would be transformative. The crossing time to Sicily would be slashed to a mere ten minutes. This stands in stark contrast to the current ferry service, where journey times can extend far beyond the 30-minute sailing due to lengthy queues, especially during peak holiday seasons.
Decades of Debate and a Recent Setback
The project, championed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, represents a revival of an idea first mooted decades ago. In August, Transport Minister Matteo Salvini outlined an ambitious timeline, targeting construction between 2032 and 2033 and promising the creation of 120,000 jobs per year to boost the economies of Sicily and Calabria.
However, the bridge's history is chequered with controversy. Persistent concerns include:
- Environmental impact on the sensitive strait.
- Seismic safety, given the region's high earthquake risk.
- Historical worries about mafia infiltration and corruption in public contracts.
These issues resurfaced in November 2025, when the Italian Court of Auditors ruled that the project's approval violated EU environmental and public tender regulations. The court found the stated public interest reasons were not sufficiently validated by technical bodies.
An Uncertain Future and Global Context
Despite the setback, the Italian government has signalled it will not abandon the £11.7 billion venture. Officials have vowed to review the court's decision carefully and press on with their ambitions.
The plan also faces opposition from approximately 4,000 residents living on the shores of the strait, whose homes risk demolition, potentially leading to further legal challenges.
Currently, the title of the world's longest suspension bridge is held by the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge in Turkey, which opened in 2022 and spans the Dardanelles. That structure dramatically cut a 90-minute ferry crossing to a six-minute drive, setting a powerful precedent the Italian project hopes to follow—if it can finally navigate its way past decades of delay and dispute.
