Italy okays world’s longest suspension bridge to Sicily

Italy’s government on Wednesday approved a long-debated €13.5 billion ($15.6 billion) infrastructure project to build what would become the world’s longest suspension bridge, linking the island of Sicily to the mainland. If completed, the Strait of Messina Bridge would be a landmark engineering achievement and a key component of Italy’s broader economic and strategic ambitions.

The interministerial committee CIPESS, which oversees strategic public investments, cleared the plan. “It will be an engineering symbol of global significance,” said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose coalition has championed the bridge as a catalyst for growth in Italy’s economically struggling south.

With a suspended span of 3.3 kilometres, the bridge would surpass Turkey’s 1915 Canakkale Bridge to become the longest of its kind. Designed with two railway lines in the middle and three lanes of vehicular traffic on each side, the structure would be supported by twin towers rising 400 metres (1,300 feet). Construction is expected to begin between late September and early October, with completion projected by 2032 or 2033.

Transport Minister Matteo Salvini called the bridge “the biggest infrastructure project in the West,” estimating that it could generate 120,000 jobs annually while slashing travel times across the strait from up to 100 minutes to just 10 by car and 15 by train.

But the project is steeped in controversy.

Environmental groups have warned of threats to migratory bird paths and inadequate studies on ecological impact. Meanwhile, over 600 professors and researchers opposed the government’s effort to classify the bridge as “dual use” infrastructure that could count toward Italy’s NATO defence spending commitments. Critics argue that doing so would require additional assessments for military-grade resilience — and may make the bridge a future target.

Meloni’s government hopes to include the bridge as part of Italy’s pledge to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP, with 1.5% allowed for strategic infrastructure. Proponents argue the bridge would aid rapid troop movements to NATO’s southern flank, especially as Sicily hosts a NATO base.

Yet scepticism remains. Nicola Fratoianni of the Greens and Left Alliance slammed it as a “mega-project that will divert a huge amount of public resources” and “risks turning into a gigantic black hole.” The centre-left Democratic Party warned it bypasses environmental and safety norms “and common sense.”

Organised crime is another concern. Salvini pledged strict safeguards, noting the same anti-mafia protocols would be applied as were used during Expo 2015 and preparations for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. The public prosecutor of Messina had earlier warned of mafia infiltration risks. An initial decree gave the Interior Ministry special oversight, but Italy’s president later insisted regular anti-mafia rules apply.

The bridge has a long history of false starts. First proposed over 50 years ago, a 2006 tender was awarded to Eurolink — a consortium led by Italian infrastructure firm Webuild — before being cancelled during the eurozone debt crisis. Webuild remains the contractor, using a modified version of the same engineering design that includes seismic resistance for the earthquake-prone region.

“This will be transformative for the whole country,” said Webuild CEO Pietro Salini.

- with inputs from AP and AFP