Rome, Aug 7 — Italy has officially approved the construction of the world’s longest suspension bridge, a landmark €13.5 billion ($15.5 billion) project set to connect the island of Sicily with the Italian mainland via the Strait of Messina. The ambitious infrastructure plan aims to transform southern Italy’s connectivity while serving broader strategic and defense interests.
The Messina Bridge, with a suspended span of 3.3 kilometres, will surpass Turkey’s Canakkale Bridge by over 1.2 kilometres, becoming the longest of its kind globally, according to Italy’s Transport Ministry and AP reports.
Engineering Marvel and Strategic Asset
Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, who spearheaded the project, called it the “biggest infrastructure project in the West.” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni echoed the sentiment, calling the bridge “an engineering symbol of global significance.”
The bridge will feature three car lanes in each direction and a double-track railway, capable of handling 6,000 cars per hour and up to 200 trains daily. Travel time across the strait, currently up to 100 minutes by ferry, is expected to shrink to just 10 minutes by car, with train travel reduced by as much as 2.5 hours.
Salvini also emphasized the economic impact, projecting the creation of 120,000 jobs annually throughout the construction phase.
Timeline and Implementation
Following approval by a strategic interministerial committee, preliminary work is slated to begin between late September and early October, pending clearance from Italy’s Court of Audit. Full construction is expected to commence in 2026, with completion targeted between 2032 and 2033.
The project, originally envisioned as early as the Roman era, has suffered numerous delays and cancellations. Italy first solicited proposals in 1969, but only under the Meloni government’s 2023 revival has it come closest to materializing.
NATO and National Security Dimensions
In a notable development, Salvini said the government is considering classifying the bridge as a defense-related project, potentially allowing a portion of its cost to count toward NATO’s 5% GDP military spending target, particularly under the 1.5% security infrastructure category.
“This could be a security-enhancing asset,” Salvini noted, referring to its potential use for rapid troop and equipment movement along NATO’s southern flank. However, the final classification decision will rest with Italy’s defense and economy ministries.
Environmental Concerns Raised
The project is not without controversy. Environmental groups have filed complaints with the European Union, warning of the bridge’s potential threat to migratory birds and regional ecosystems. Critics argue that current environmental studies fail to meet EU standards, lacking proof that the project is of “overriding public interest” or that it adequately offsets ecological damage.
Salvini, while acknowledging the concerns, stated that environmental safeguards are being reviewed and updated in coordination with EU and local authorities.
The Strait of Messina separates Sicily from mainland Italy by roughly 3 km. The long-standing logistical bottleneck has made the bridge a symbol of both promise and political paralysis for decades. With political will aligned and national priorities evolving, Italy appears closer than ever to realizing a project many once deemed impossible.
