Mainland Italy Could Connect With Sicily Over World’s Longest Suspension Bridge

While this has been discussed for a while now, mainland Italy and Sicily could be linked by the world’s longest suspension bridge. While environmentalists say the proposed project would damage local ecosystems, construction is set to begin at the end of this year. Moreover, it is said that the bridge would be in use by the early 2030s.

World’s longest suspension bridge to link Sicily with mainland Italy

Officials in Italy have discussed the idea of building a suspension bridge to the island of Sicily for a long time. The ambitious engineering project was in its preliminary stages for several decades but was dropped in 2013.

Meanwhile, in 2022, Italy’s right-wing government announced plans to build what will be the longest suspension bridge in the world. Fast-forward to now and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she would ask the EU for help fund the multi-billion euro project.

This week a new funding proposal was made between the bridge’s construction company, Societa Stretto di Messina and the Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency of the European Commission.

Reportedly, the Grant Agreement will see the EU covering some 50 percent of the executive design costs of the rail infrastructure amounting to some €25 million.

About the bridge project

Currently, travelers can fly by plane or travel by boat from mainland Italy to Sicily. Moreover, it is possible to travel by train, carried by a ferry from the mainland to Sicily. However, even as far back as Roman times, a bridge to connect them was often debated. Moreover, according to historians, the ancient Romans did build one using barrels and boats.

Reportedly, Dictator Benito Mussolini revived the dream of linking Sicily with the mainland. However, it wasn’t until the early 2000s that the government of Silvio Berlusconi said that the project had gained funding from Brussels. 2009 saw a contract for the construction awarded to the Messina Strait Company.

Meanwhile, the rail and road connection was set to link the region of Calabria on the mainland with the city of Messina in Sicily. However, when former premier Mario Monti closed the construction company in a series of austerity cuts in 2013.

Why hasn’t the suspension bridge from mainland Italy to Sicily been built?

Moreover, plans for the suspension bridge between Sicily and the mainland have not been fully supported. Some say the bridge will help boost Sicily’s stagnating economy and lessen the gap between the wealthy north and the poor south.

The plans for a suspension bridge between Sicily and the mainland have not been unanimously supported. However, supporters of the project note that the bridge would allow cargo ships arriving from the Suez Canal to transfer their goods onto trains in Sicily. This would mean the goods could be transported quickly to the north of Italy, saving money on lengthy sea voyages.

Moreover, the new rail and road connection would relieve pressure on the overcrowded ferry serves that take cars, lorries and trains over the Strait of Messina. However, critics point out that the huge bridge would be a waste of public funds and a risky undertaking in an active seismic zone. Meanwhile, environmentalists warn of the risk to local ecosystems and the aesthetic damage to the landscape.

The road and rail bridge will have a central span of more than 3 km (1.86 mi) in length. Meanwhile, the estimated total cost is €4.6 billion and construction sites are planned to start by the end of this year.