Strait of Messina

It’s Official: Italy Will Soon Be Connected to Sicily Via a Bridge Over the Strait of Messina

Planned as a massive suspension structure linking mainland Italy’s ‘foot’ to Sicily’s ‘ball’ across the Strait of Messina, this project has been proposed in various forms for thousands of years, with even the Romans once suggesting a bridge of boats and barrels. After a failed attempt that nearly went ahead around 2009 but was called off in 2013, construction is now set to restart, backed by a 2023 government decree and EU funding covering half of the executive design costs for the rail infrastructure. The Italian government is expected to give a final green light in a planning committee meeting on August 7, with €13.5 billion allocated and officials suggesting a completion date around 2032. Once finished, the bridge is expected to be about 3,600 metres long, making it the longest suspension bridge in the world, and its design is intended to withstand a 7.5 magnitude earthquake and winds of up to 186 mph, promising a dramatic new way to cross between Villa San Giovanni and Messina, and making Sicily much more accessible, particularly by train. - Ed Cunningham