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The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Why locals are fighting plans for the world's longest bridge
Italy has granted final approval for the construction of a bridge, set to be the world's longest single-span bridge, connecting Sicily to the mainland. The 13.5 billion euro project, sanctioned by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government, is expected to begin preliminary works in September-October and be completed by 2032. The undertaking faces significant opposition from residents, with over 440 properties requiring expropriation, and environmental groups who have filed a complaint with the EU, citing ecological and seismic risks. Opponents are preparing legal challenges, though experts suggest blocking the project will be difficult as public interest typically outweighs private concerns in such cases. Supporters argue the bridge will boost the regional economy, while authorities have pledged safeguards against mafia involvement and assured the bridge's resilience to earthquakes.
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
World's longest suspension bridge connects two continents and cost £2bn to build
The Strait of Messina Bridge that will connect Sicily to mainland Italy will become the longest suspension bridge in the world but the current record holder links Asia to Europe Italy has been given the go-ahead to build the longest suspension bridge in the world that will connect the mainland to Sicily. Concepts of the colossal bridge, named the Strait of Messina Bridge, have been released, and it would span an impressive 3.3km. The Italian prime minister, Georgia Meloni, said: 'It is not an easy task but we consider it an investment in Italy's present and future, and we like difficult challenges when they make sense.' However, until that ambitious project, costing an estimated £11.6bn, is finalised, the world's longest suspension bridge will belong the 1915 Canakkale Bridge in Turkey. The structure connects Asia to Europe and takes six minutes to cross. Construction across the passage of water (Dardanelles Strait) started in 2017 and it only became open to the public three years ago. Journey times have been cut by up to 93%. This means 90-minute ferry trips can be avoided by using the bridge that starts in Gelibolu, Turkey, which is based on the European side of the country, to the Asian town of Lapseki. The 1915 reference pays homage to the Ottoman victory in the First World War, a defeat for Britain which eventually led to the declaration of the Republic of Turkey in 1923. The bridge stretches 2,203 metres, a nod to the year 2023 when Turkey honoured the centenary of the founding of the republic. Turkey's President Erdogan previously revealed the mammoth bridge cost €2.5billion (just over £2billion). He also boasted about the bridge being bigger than the previous record holder – the Askashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan that was built in 1998. Erdogan said: 'Turkey has overtaken Japan, which has the longest bridge in the world in terms of midspan, and has taken the place.' However, the record may soon go to Italy's planned Strait of Messina Bridge which would exceed Turkey's bridge by more than a kilometre. Seaking of the importance of the 1915 Canakkale Bridge at the inauguration ceremony, South Korean's former Prime Minster Kim Boo-kyum said: 'The 1915 Canakkale Bridge will leave this history of collision and conflict behind and will be a bridge between East and West, starting a new era of peace and prosperity.' And speaking further after the completion of the project, Erdogan added: 'Canakkale, which has been the apple of the eyes of various civilizations, cultures and societies for thousands of years, embraces a brand new future today. 'We have come together to inaugurate the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, which we see as a ruby necklace over the Canakkale Strait.' The Canakkale Bridge is not only the longest suspension bridge in the world, it is also the second tallest, with the tallest being the Millau Viaduct in France which reaches a staggering 1,125 feet (332 metres) above ground. The Turkish bridge is 72.8metres high and 45.06m wide and there are six lanes of motorway and two walkways used for maintenance. According to AP, the Turkish President claimed a reduction of fuel consumption and carbon emissions from the bridge saves the country €415million per year. This would mean that they would have saved £3.3bn over the next decade.
The Independent
11 hours ago
- The Independent
Locals fight plans for Italy's Sicily bridge that would be world's longest
Italy has given final approval for the construction of what would be the world's longest single-span bridge, connecting Sicily to the mainland, a decision that immediately sets the stage for a potential legal battle. The colossal project, spanning the Strait of Messina, was formally sanctioned by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government on Wednesday, earmarking 13.5 billion euros for its development. This ambitious undertaking, first conceived by the ancient Romans, has been under discussion for more than 50 years and now faces the prospect of further delays. "They could offer me three times the value of my house, but that doesn't matter to me. What matters is the landscape. They must not touch the Strait of Messina," said Mariolina De Francesco, a 75-year-old living in the Sicilian city of Messina. More than 440 properties will have to be expropriated on the Sicilian side and in the Calabria region on the mainland to make way for the 3.7-km (2.3-mile) bridge and connecting roads and railways. "Our lawyers will take action, and we will stop them. That's guaranteed," said De Francesco, whose house lies near the site of one of the bridge's planned 399-metre-tall land towers. Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini said preliminary works should start in September-October, and has promised generous compensation to those required to surrender their property. The bridge is due for completion in 2032. The Messina Strait Company overseeing the project is bracing for a big legal fight. "(Legal appeals) certainly keep me busy because they waste a lot of our time," its CEO Pietro Ciucci told La Stampa newspaper. Environmental groups this week filed a complaint with the European Union, flagging serious risks for the local ecosystem. The Torre Faro district, on the northern edge of Messina, includes a nature reserve surrounding two ponds, and Calabria appears within arm's reach when strolling along the seafront. Committees of 'No Bridge' residents say the area's environmental value and seismic risk make it unsuitable for the infrastructure. They also fear the works will drag on, making the neighbourhood unliveable because of the noise. The Messina Strait Company says the bridge will be designed to withstand very strong earthquakes and will not be placed on active fault lines. It has also promised mitigation measures to safeguard habitats and protected species. Contractual obligations will ensure that the timing and effects of construction activity, including noise, will be kept under strict control, the company added. Supporters of the project - awarded to the Eurolink consortium led by Italy's Webuild - say it will bolster the economy of an underdeveloped region. "The bridge could create jobs for young people, and maybe it could also change something in Sicily, where we always like to keep everything as it is," said 71-year-old Giuseppe Caruso, sitting on his bike near the beach. Authorities have pledged strong safeguards against any mafia involvement. The two regions are home to the Cosa Nostra and 'Ndrangheta mafia organizations, which have a long history of infiltrating lucrative public works projects. The government is also considering whether to categorise investment in the bridge as defence spending, which would help Italy meet new NATO targets to boost military budgets. House expropriations are set to proceed gradually, in line with construction progress. Activists and lawyers estimate some 1,000 people could lose their homes, and say the increased costs since the project was first awarded may breach European Union public procurement laws. "We are a country governed by the rule of law within the EU, so even the government must respect the rules," said Antonio Saitta, a lawyer representing some Messina residents. The Messina Strait Company said the rise in costs, from 8.5 billion euros in 2011 - before the project was blocked - to the current 13.5 billion euros, was due to the sharp increase in construction material prices. Saitta said the main way of blocking the bridge was to file an appeal with an administrative court against the government's decision by the end of October. Gianluca Maria Esposito, an administrative law professor at Sapienza University of Rome, said the public interest prevails over the private in such cases and that blocking the project would be a daunting challenge. "The citizen is entitled to compensation but cannot claim further damages, nor can they oppose the realization of the project," he said.
