Final Approval for Messina Strait Bridge Set for Wednesday, Announces Salvini
Rome: The government’s ambitious 13.5-billion-euro initiative to construct a bridge across the Strait of Messina, linking Sicily with the Italian mainland, is poised to receive final approval on Wednesday, according to Transport and Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini. The announcement was made on Monday during a video link to an event in the Marche region alongside Premier Giorgia Meloni.
According to Ansa News Agency, the final project approval is scheduled to occur at 12:30 on Wednesday. Salvini emphasized the historical significance of the project, noting its roots in discussions dating back to the era of the ancient Romans. He described the upcoming forty-eight hours, during which the last regulations and signatures are expected, as marking a historic milestone. Stretto di Messina, the company overseeing the project, reported last week that its board of directors had sanctioned the documents set for submission to the CIPESS economic planning committee for the final go-ahead.
The project encompasses
not only the construction of the bridge but also 40 kilometers of road and rail connections, three new train stations, and a business center in Calabria. If all proceeds as planned, the bridge, anticipated to be the world’s longest suspension bridge, is projected for completion by 2032, as stated by Pietro Salini, CEO of Webuild, the consortium leading the construction efforts.
The project, initially promoted by the late media mogul and ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi, faced postponements over the years due to its substantial cost, environmental apprehensions, and concerns about mafia involvement. However, it gained renewed momentum following the center-right’s victory in the 2022 general election, led by Salvini. Despite this progress, Italy’s largest union, CGIL, appealed to the European Commission in May, urging them to rescind their approval of the plan, citing critical technical, environmental, regulatory, and social issues.