World's longest suspension bridge to be built between Italy and Sicily - with £12BILLION plan approved 2,000 years after it was first dreamed up
The 2.3 mile Strait of Messina Bridge had been held up for decades over mafia infiltration, earthquake, and financial concerns.
But Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni yesterday declared it was an investment in Italy's present and future and added: 'We like difficult challenges when they make sense.'
Work is expected to be completed by 2032 and the bridge will be held up by four main steel cables measuring 1.26 metres in diameter.
The project has faced stiff opposition from those who question the wisdom of building such a bridge in an earthquake zone.
Many also fear cost overruns, possible environmental damage and mafia infiltration in construction contracts.
The bridge will measure 60 metres wide and will have six traffic lanes, two railway tracks, two service lanes, and will be supported by two towers standing 399 metres high.
Some citizens' groups opposed to the bridge say it is unnecessary, and environmental associations this week filed a complaint with the European Union, flagging serious risks for the local environment.
They have argued there are threats to birds migrating between Europe and Africa, while it is also located in one of the most seismically active areas in the Mediterranean.
'CIPESS is a biased arbiter, we hope that real arbiters - third party figures, the Court of Auditors, the EU, the judiciary - will come and stop this game, which is devastating for our territory,' no-bridge campaigner Daniele Ialacqua told Reuters.
Yet the bridge also has strong support from those who believe a fast rail and road connection will provide a much-needed boost to Sicily and the rest of Italy's southern regions.
The current ferry crossing takes about 20 minutes, plus boarding and disembarkation which can require hours at peak times.
Trains to and from Sicily are also taken onboard ferries, in a process that takes around two hours. Italy is seeking to categorise investment in the bridge as part of defence spending, which would help it meet pledges by NATO countries to boost military budgets to 5% of gross domestic product by 2035.
Matteo Salvini, leader of the co-ruling League party and Transport Minister said the infrastructure would have both civilian and military purposes.
'It is obvious that it is dual-use and can therefore be used for security reasons too,' he said in a press conference.
The Strait of Messina Bridge Project was awarded to the Eurolink consortium following an international tender.
The bridge will measure 60 metres wide and will have six traffic lanes, two railway tracks, two service lanes, and will be supported by two towers standing 399 metres high
Italy's largest construction company, Webuild, leads the consortium, which includes Spanish group Sacyr and Japan's IHI.
According to the Messina Strait Company, Wednesday's approval will allow the start of preliminary works, including archaeological and geological surveys. Land expropriations will also be authorised.
The Court of Auditors, however, will first need to validate the committee's decision.
A source close to the matter said this could take a few weeks, and Salvini said work could start in September-October.
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