Alex CarterImagine a suspension bridge that’s 60 percent longer than the world’s current longest suspension bridge, the 2,023-meter (6,637-foot) long 1915 Çanakkale Bridge in Turkey. That’s what could be in store if plans to link Sicily to Italy come to fruition.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The keyword here is “if”. The idea of connecting Sicily to Italy has been a topic of discussion since the Roman era, yet little tangible progress has been made.
There’s a fascinating tale from Pliny the Elder, a Roman philosopher and military leader, who claimed a temporary bridge was once used to transport war elephants across the Strait of Messina in 251 BCE. Whether this is fact or fiction, the concept has certainly stood the test of time.
The dream was revived in the 1860s during Italy’s unification and has since been a recurring theme in Italian politics. In 2002, the late media mogul and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi made a bold promise to start construction in 2004 and complete it by 2010. Spoiler alert: it didn’t happen. Despite a second attempt in 2009, the project was shelved in 2013 due to budget constraints.
Fast forward to today, and the vision of the Strait of Messina Bridge has been rekindled by a succession of right-wing populist governments in Italy.
In a significant move, the cabinet of Giorgia Meloni formally revived the plan in March 2023. Hailing it as a “historic day for the whole of Italy”, the government argued that the project would create thousands of jobs and boost the economy of Italy’s southern regions. They believe they can deliver the project in just 15 years with a budget of €12 billion ($12.9 billion).
However, the plan has not been without its critics. Opposition parties have raised concerns about a lack of transparency in the project’s funding, with some even suggesting potential Mafia involvement. Environmentalists and scientists have also voiced concerns about the seismic activity in the region, making it a risky proposition.
Despite these challenges, the government is forging ahead with the project. Matteo Salvini, Italy’s infrastructure minister and leader of the far-right League coalition party, recently declared, “Let the Left get over it: the bridge will be built and it will be the pride of the whole of Italy,” according to ANSA press agency.
“Full steam ahead!” he confidently proclaimed.
