Italy approves construction of world’s longest suspension bridge connecting Sicily to mainland

Italy’s government has granted final approval for a €13.5 billion project to build the world’s longest suspension bridge, connecting the mainland of Italy to the island of Sicily. This long-delayed infrastructure project, prioritized by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, aims to boost economic development in the impoverished southern regions of Italy. The bridge will span a total length of 3.67 kilometers (2.3 miles), with a suspended span of 3.3 kilometers (2.05 miles), featuring two steel towers each standing 399 meters tall. The roadway will be elevated 72 meters above sea level and designed to withstand extreme wind speeds of up to 292 km/h (181 mph). Despite concerns about environmental impacts, mafia interference, and the seismic risks posed by the location across tectonic fault lines, the project is set to start preliminary works including archaeological and geological surveys later this summer, with construction beginning next year. The Messina Strait Company anticipates completion by 2032. The Italian consortium WeBuild, which initially won the bid in 2006 before cancellation in 2013, will lead the project. This bridge is seen as a key development for Sicily and Calabria by improving connectivity and potentially creating tens of thousands of jobs, although some local protests and skepticism remain over its feasibility and cost-effectiveness.