The Italian government is set to give final approval to a multi-billion-euro project that will link Sicily to the Italian mainland, Reuters reported.
The construction of the bridge to Sicily has been under discussion since the mid-20th century and, when completed, will be one of the world’s longest, stretching 3.6 kilometers. The right-wing government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has made the bridge a priority, with 13.5 billion euros earmarked for it over the next ten years. Italian Transport Minister Matteo Salvini said he would hold a press conference after a cabinet meeting at noon on the 6th of August.
The Messina Strait bridge project will be implemented by the Eurolink consortium, which won the rights in an international tender. The consortium is led by Italy’s largest construction company Webuild, and its other members include Spain’s Sacyr and Japan’s IHI. According to the project’s supervisor, Messina Strait Company,
the government commission’s approval would allow preparatory work to begin, including archaeological and geological surveys.
It would also allow the purchase of land plots.
The bridge project also has its critics. Some question the wisdom of building a bridge of this size in a seismically active zone, while others say it would be a waste of money and would damage the environment. Still others fear that local criminal groups will get involved in the work and misappropriate funds. Protests are taking place against the bridge project by some civic groups, calling it unnecessary. Environmental groups have filed a complaint with the European Union institutions, citing the risk of environmental damage.
At the same time, the bridge project also has passionate supporters, who believe that a fast connection for motorists and trains will be a good alternative to the current ferry service.
Webuild has indicated that the construction work could create around 100,000 jobs, and the bridge could be completed by 2032.
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