BY OSABUOHIEN VIVIAN ROSE
The Italian government has approved the construction of what is to be known as the world’s longest suspension bridge.
The long-delayed bridge would connect mainland Italy to the island of Sicily, which is presently only reachable via ferry.
It is believed that the project, which became a priority for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government, will help develop the impoverished south of Italy. It will cost a total of €13.5bn (£11.7bn).
With three car lanes in each direction flanked by a double-track railway, the bridge would have the capacity to carry 6,000 cars an hour and 200 trains a day — reducing the time to cross the strait by ferry from up to 100 minutes to 10 minutes by car. Trains will save 2/12 hours in transit time, Salvini said.
The Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning and Sustainable Development (CIPESS) gave the final approval to the project at a meeting in Rome, the League party of deputy prime minister and transport minister Matteo Salvini said.
It will have a total length of 3.67km (2.3 miles) and a suspended span of 3.3km (2.05 miles) and have two towers, each made entirely of highly resistant steel, standing 399m tall.
That’s despite concerns over the environmental impacts and the threat of mafia interference.
There have also been concerns over such a bridge being built in an earthquake zone.
The designers say the bridge’s roadway platform, which will sit 72m above the sea, can stand wind speeds of 292km/h (181mph).
The project has been awarded to a consortium led by WeBuild, an Italian infrastructure group. They initially won the bid to build the bridge in 2006 before the project was cancelled in 2013.
According to the Messina Strait Company overseeing the project, Wednesday’s approval will allow the start of preliminary works, including archaeological and geological surveys.
The company said the bridge will be completed in 2032-2033.
Preliminary work could begin late September and early October with construction expected to start next year.
Webuild CEO Pietro Salini said in a statement that the Strait of Messina Bridge “will be transformative for the whole country.”
