The Strait of Messina Bridge, set to become the world's longest suspension bridge, has been approved and is expected to be completed by 2032–2033. The project is estimated to cost £11.5 billion and will connect Sicily to mainland Italy.
Bridge specifications and capacity
The bridge will have a total length of 3,666 metres (2.2 miles) and is designed to include six lanes of cars and two railway tracks. It will have a maximum capacity of 200 trains a day and 6,000 vehicles an hour.
The current world's longest bridge is the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, spanning 34 miles. The Strait of Messina Bridge will have two supporting towers reaching 399 metres (1,309 feet) high, which are taller than the Empire State Building.
Seismic and wind resilience
The Italian bridge sits where the African and Eurasian tectonic plates collide, making seismic planning essential. According to the project's website, the bridge is designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 216 km per hour and an earthquake of 7.1 on the Richter scale.
Toll charges and project funding
Drivers will have to pay a toll to cross the bridge, with a single crossing in a motor vehicle costing between €4 and €7 (£3-£6) per trip. The project's website states that these rates will ensure the cost of the project is covered over the concession term, along with operating and maintenance expenses, while providing seamless travel between Sicily and Calabria with tolls far lower than the current cost of crossing the Strait.
