Italy’s government has officially approved a controversial €13.5 billion ($15.6 billion) infrastructure project to construct the world’s longest suspension bridge, connecting the island of Sicily to mainland Italy via the Strait of Messina. If completed, the 3.3-kilometre-long bridge would surpass the current record holder, Turkey’s 1915 Çanakkale Bridge.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s administration hails the state-funded mega-project as a game-changer for Italy’s economically challenged south, promising to create tens of thousands of jobs, accelerate development in Sicily and Calabria, and drastically reduce travel time across the strait from over an hour to just 10–15 minutes.
The project, led by the Eurolink consortium (headed by the Italian construction giant Webuild), includes two railway tracks and six traffic lanes, supported by 400-meter-high towers, and is designed to withstand strong winds and seismic activity in this geologically active region.
Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini confirmed that work could begin as early as September or October 2025, with completion targeted for 2032.
However, the approval has sparked significant backlash:
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Environmentalists and opposition parties argue it’s an ecological threat and a financial “black hole.”
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Critics, including Italy’s Court of Auditors, question the wisdom of such a massive investment while the country battles national debt.
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The Democratic Party slammed the plan for bypassing European environmental and safety norms.
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Concerns about mafia infiltration into the project have also been raised, with Messina’s public prosecutor warning of organized crime risks.
Notably, the Italian government is reportedly considering classifying the project as “defence-related infrastructure” to help meet NATO spending targets. If successful, part of the funding could fall under Italy’s commitment to raise defence expenditure to 5% of GDP.
Despite the fanfare, many Italians remain skeptical, citing decades of failed attempts to bring the Messina Bridge to life. The first proposal dates back over 50 years, and a previous contract awarded to Eurolink in 2006 was canceled after the eurozone debt crisis.
Still, Meloni and Salvini insist the project will move forward, calling it a symbol of Italy’s ambition, willpower, and technical expertise.
