Approval granted for $15.6 billion Italian project linking Sicily via the world's longest suspension bridge
The Messina Suspension Bridge Project: A Major Milestone Achieved
After decades of debate and delays, the Messina Suspension Bridge project in Italy has received final government approval, marking a significant step forward. Construction is expected to begin in 2025, with a projected completion date around 2032 to 2033.
The Italian government's Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning and Sustainable Development (CIPESS) approved the Definitive Design of the bridge and associated infrastructure projects on August 6, 2025. The project is contracted to Eurolink, led by Webuild, with a contract value of approximately €10.6 billion, part of the overall €13.5 billion ($15.5 billion) project cost.
Preliminary works may have started around late summer or early fall 2025, pending final administrative clearances, with full construction slated to commence in 2025 or early 2026. The bridge will span nearly 3.7 kilometers (2.3 miles) with a suspended span of 3.3 kilometers, surpassing Turkey’s Canakkale Bridge as the world’s longest single-span suspension bridge.
The bridge is designed to carry six lanes of road traffic (three lanes each direction) and a double-track railway, enabling significant reductions in travel times between Sicily and mainland Italy. The project is framed as a major boost for economic development in southern Italy, promising job creation, improved mobility, and symbolic prestige for the country.
However, the project has been controversial due to seismic risks, environmental concerns, and potential mafia involvement. The current Italian administration under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini strongly back the project as a strategic priority and symbol of national progress.
Pietro Salini, Chief Executive of Webuild, has stated that the project will serve as an extraordinary opportunity for the future of young people. The goal is to finish the bridge between 2032 and 2033.
Environmental groups have raised concerns about the bridge's construction requiring millions of liters of water daily, a significant issue in a region that often struggles with drought. Local residents and politicians are also concerned about the potential for property takings and the allocation of funds for schools and healthcare instead. The mayor of Villa San Giovanni, a town where the bridge would be built, has called for more time for public consultations.
Despite these concerns, the bridge will be fitted with the most advanced technologies for safety and maintenance and will be built according to the highest international engineering standards. It will feature two railway lines in the center and three lanes of traffic on either side. The final design for the Messina Bridge includes extensive earthquake resistance measures, making it engineered to be more robust than needed to withstand an earthquake even stronger than the 7.1 magnitude quake that devastated Messina in 1908.
The Messina Suspension Bridge's deck will be multi-purpose, featuring two railway lines in the center to facilitate train travel between Sicily and the mainland. The bridge's capacity for trains is up to 200 trains per day, and for cars, it can handle 6,000 vehicles per hour.
The bridge aims to provide a faster, more permanent link between the two regions, as the current method for trains to cross the strait is a 30-minute ferry journey. The bridge's design includes two towering pillars, each standing 400 meters (1,300 feet) tall, to support the structure.
The project is expected to boost the economy and create 120,000 jobs annually in Sicily and Calabria, two of Europe’s poorest regions. The government is pushing the project as a major investment for Italy's future.
[1] The Guardian, "Italy's new government approves €15bn Messina Bridge project," 6 August 2025, www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/06/italys-new-government-approves-15bn-messina-bridge-project
[2] Reuters, "Italy approves €15bn Messina Bridge project," 6 August 2025, www.reuters.com/world/europe/italy-approves-15bn-messina-bridge-project-2025-08-06/
[3] ANSA, "Messina Bridge: CIPESS approves definitive design," 6 August 2025, www.ansa.it/notizie/nazionale/2025/08/06/messina-bridge-cipess-approva-disegno-definitivo_a442c660-293b-4a59-8f77-5e68f387613a.html
[4] Webuild, "Messina Bridge," www.webuildgroup.com/en/projects/messina-bridge
[5] La Stampa, "Il ponte di Messina, un progetto di 15 miliardi di euro approvato dal governo," 6 August 2025, www.lastampa.it/2025/08/06/news/il-ponte-di-messina-un-progetto-di-15-miliardi-di-euro-approvato-dal-governo-1.37266619
- The Messina Suspension Bridge project, a significant investment for Italy estimated at €15 billion, encompasses cutting-edge safety and maintenance technologies, aligning it with the forefront of innovation in engineering.
- The Italian government's project, projected to be completed by 2032–2033, is poised to revolutionize transportation by offering a rapid train connection, reducing travel time between Sicily and mainland Italy, and facilitating seamless movement for approximately 6,000 vehicles per hour.
- To drive economic growth in southern Italy, the Messina Suspension Bridge project aims to create 120,000 jobs annually in Sicily and Calabria while attracting finance and technology within the industry, particularly in the sector of robotics, with expectations of shaping the future for countless young people.
