Italy approves world’s longest suspension bridge

Render of the Strait of Messina Bridge connecting mainland Italy with Sicily. Image: Webuild

The project received final approval from CIPESS – Italy’s Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning and Sustainable Development – on 6 August.

The move clears the way for construction to begin under a consortium led by Milan-based Webuild, operating as general contractor through Eurolink.

The group has been involved in some of Italy’s largest transport schemes, including the Brenner Base Tunnel and the Terzo Valico dei Giovi high-speed rail line.

The bridge forms part of a broader plan to upgrade southern Italy’s transport network and improve mobility across the Strait of Messina, which currently relies on ferry service. Webuild said the works would create “a great infrastructure project spread out across many work sites contemporaneously,” involving more than 40km of new road and rail lines, three underground train stations, approximately ten viaducts, tunnels, and a new multifunctional hub.

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Italy allocated an estimated €13.5 billion (US$15.7 billion) for the entire scope. The bridge is estimated to cost around $5.2 billion.

In addition to the main crossing, the project will integrate with the existing and future high-speed rail corridors on both sides of the Strait, including the Salerno–Reggio Calabria line and the upgraded Palermo–Catania–Messina corridor. Webuild said the bridge will also be equipped with advanced technologies for maintenance and safety and constructed to meet international engineering standards.

Construction of the Strait of Messina Bridge has been proposed and shelved multiple times in recent decades due to cost, political shifts, and environmental concerns. The latest approval signals a new commitment from the Italian government to deliver the scheme as part of its national transport strategy.