Italy is preparing to begin construction on what will be the world's longest suspension bridge, connecting the island of Sicily to the mainland across the Strait of Messina. The ambitious project, long debated but repeatedly shelved, has been revived by the current government with the backing of top officials and major infrastructure firms.
The bridge, which spans an estimated 3,300 metres, is designed to accommodate both road and rail traffic. It links the Sicilian town of Torre Faro with Villa San Giovanni in Calabria. The initiative aims to physically and symbolically integrate Sicily more closely with the rest of Europe.
Estimated to cost around €13.5 billion, the megastructure is expected to bring significant economic benefits. Government figures suggest it could boost GDP by nearly €3 billion during the construction phase, create up to 100,000 jobs, and engage over 300 suppliers, many of them from high-unemployment areas in southern Italy.
Despite the anticipated benefits, the project faces enormous technical and environmental challenges. The Strait of Messina lies in one of Europe's most seismically active zones, raising concerns about the bridge's long-term resilience. However, engineers argue that the suspension bridge design is well-suited to cope with ground movement and tower displacement, citing similar structures in earthquake-prone Japan.
If completed, the bridge will surpass Turkey's 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, which currently holds the longest suspension span at 2,023 metres. The Italian structure will offer a 600-metre navigation channel, standing 74 metres above sea level to allow passage for large vessels, including cruise ships.
While the European Union contributes a small amount to the design phase, most of the funding will come from national sources and be distributed over several years, with payments scheduled through 2026.
The timeline remains uncertain. The government hopes construction can begin by late 2025, with completion aimed for 2032. However, some experts warn that large-scale projects like this often suffer delays due to bureaucracy, funding issues, and technical setbacks, drawing comparisons to Venice's MOSE flood barrier, which faced decades of postponement.
Despite controversy and scepticism, Italy appears determined to make the Strait of Messina Bridge a defining feat of engineering and national pride.
