Italy has officially approved an ambitious €13.5 billion ($15.6 billion) plan to build the world’s longest suspension bridge, linking the island of Sicily with the mainland region of Calabria. This historic megaproject — decades in the making — will span the Messina Strait, stretching 3.3km (2.05 miles) and standing on two massive 400-meter towers.
Designed to endure earthquakes in one of the most seismically active zones of the Mediterranean, the bridge will accommodate three lanes of traffic on each side and a double-track railway, aiming to revolutionize transportation between northern and southern Italy.
🚧 A Vision or a Political Gamble?
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the project an “investment in Italy’s present and future,” despite acknowledging the complexities involved. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, a major supporter, claimed the project could create 120,000 jobs annually and breathe new life into Sicily and Calabria — two of the poorest regions in Europe.
To ease financial pressures, the government is seeking to categorize the bridge as military infrastructure so it qualifies under NATO defense spending, further stirring debate.
😠 Not Everyone Is On Board
Despite government optimism, resistance is strong. Critics — including local politicians, residents, and environmental groups — argue that the project could:
- Divert critical funds from healthcare, schools, and public transport
- Displace local families
- Consume millions of liters of water daily in drought-prone areas
- Open the door for potential mafia exploitation of contracts
Some see it as a political stunt, rather than a well-thought-out infrastructure plan. Italy’s Court of Auditors and EU environmental agencies still need to give final approval, meaning delays are still possible — if not likely.
Currently, trains must be ferried across the strait, a process that takes about 30 minutes. If completed between 2032 and 2033, this bridge could change that forever.