Italy is preparing to approve the final phase of a €13 billion bridge project connecting Sicily to the mainland. The bridge, planned to span the Strait of Messina, will be the longest suspension bridge in the world upon completion at 3.6 kilometers. The current record is held by the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge in Turkey, which has a central span of 2,023 meters.
World’s longest suspension bridge to be built
The government, led by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, states that the project is a strategic infrastructure investment not only for economic reasons but also for national security. The dream of connecting Sicily to the mainland has been repeatedly raised since the founding of modern Italy, but none of the previous attempts have been successful.
The project, once again made a national priority in the 1970s to combat poverty, was shelved due to technical deficiencies, weaknesses in public finances, and local opposition.
The bridge’s construction contract was awarded to the Eurolink consortium, led by Webuild, Italy’s largest construction company. The consortium also includes the Spanish construction company Sacyr and the Japanese engineering firm IHI.
These companies have previously participated in large-scale projects such as the expansion of the Panama Canal, the Akashi suspension bridge in Japan, and the Osman Gazi Bridge in Turkey. Webuild estimates that the bridge’s construction will create more than 100,000 jobs. Completion is slated for 2032.
As a NATO member, Italy has pledged to increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP over the next decade. 1.5 percent of this amount is earmarked for strategic infrastructure projects. The government is evaluating the Messina Bridge within this framework.
An official report prepared in recent months identified the bridge as critical infrastructure for the rapid deployment of military units. The presence of NATO bases in southern Italy further enhances its strategic importance. The project is also being considered a response to growing Russian influence in the Mediterranean.
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