Italy greenlights blueprint for worlds longest suspension bridge

Italy Approves Messina Strait Bridge—Expected to Break World Records

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s coalition has officially granted funding for a 13.5‑billion‑euro project that would connect Sicily to mainland Italy with the world’s longest suspension bridge.

Key Engineering Features

• Suspended span of 3.3 kilometres (2.05 miles) between two 400‑metre towers – a record
• Dual railway lines mid‑span, with three traffic lanes on each side
• Designed to withstand high winds and earthquakes across two tectonic plates

Projected Timeline & Economic Impact

Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, responsible for transport, anticipates construction to start as early as September or October, with an expected completion target of 2032. He claimed the bridge and accompanying infrastructure would “act as a development accelerator” for impoverished Sicily and Calabria, creating tens of thousands of skilled jobs.

Controversy & Opposition

• Environmental Concerns – Local protests cite potential ecological damage and cost overruns.
• Financial Risks – Green MP Nicola Fratoianni warned that the massive investment could become a “gigantic black hole.”
• Regulatory & Legal Issues – The Italian Court of Auditors criticized the debt‑laden state expenditure, while the centre‑left Democratic Party alleged the project “tramples environmental, safety and European norms.”
• Security & Crime – The public prosecutor of Messina warned that organised crime could benefit, prompting Salvini’s pledge to prevent mafia infiltration.

Comparative Context

As of 2024 the longest suspended bridge is Turkey’s 1915 Canakkale Bridge, with a main span of 2.023 kilometres. Italian analysts doubt that Messina’s ambitious project will ever materialize, citing a long history of incomplete public works announced, financed, yet never finished.

Defence‑Spending Classification

Rome may be incentivized to press ahead by classifying the bridge’s cost as defence spending. Italy, cooperating with NATO allies, has agreed to increase defence expenditure to 5 % of GDP, with 1.5 % allocated to “defence‑related” areas such as cybersecurity and infrastructure. The Messina bridge is hoped to qualify, especially as Sicily hosts a NATO base.

Current Crossing Options & Journey Time Reduction

Today only ferries cross the Messina Strait, taking at least an hour by car and two hours for the train (carriages ferried onto the boat). The bridge aims to cut car journeys to 10 minutes and train hops to 15 minutes.

Meloni’s Statement

Prime Minister Meloni insisted that the bridge would serve as a “demonstration of Italy’s willpower and technical expertise” and would form the backbone of a faster, more modern nation.