Posted on 10/12/2006 8:06:48 AM PDT by Republicain
Italy has abandoned controversial plans to build a bridge between the country's mainland and the island of Sicily. The structure would have crossed the Messina Straits, forming the world's longest single-span suspension bridge.
But Italian MPs voted to scrap the proposed construction, saying they had other priorities for Italy's impoverished southern island.
There were also concerns that organised crime networks could hijack the lucrative project.
A total of 272 MPs voted in favour of abandoning the bridge proposal, while 232 voted to continue.
Earthquake risk
The project had been promoted by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Two motions put forward by his centre-right Forza Italia party to keep the bridge project did not pass.
News about the project, on the drawing board since the 1960s, was greeted with fury by centre-right deputies.
"Prodi's government is against Sicily," said Renato Schifani, a Sicilian member of parliament for Forza Italia.
"It wants to strike at our region, where the majority of voters opted for the right."
But many experts had warned that the vast project would inevitably enrich southern Italy's organised crime networks.
There were also fears that the bridge, some 4km (2.5 miles) in length, would not be capable of withstanding an earthquake.
The motion included proposals to spend some of the money set aside for the project, estimated at 4.4bn euros ($5.5bn; £2.9bn), on other transport improvements on the island, which has long been economically weaker than the mainland.
I thought this was a done deal. Maybe it's for the best.
ROTFLMAO.
What bridge is that?
Organized crime in Sicily?
The planed bridge. Virtual image.
Sicily, organized crime, who would have thunk it.
Sicily is on my list of places to see.
Capo d’Orlando, Sicily, Italy
Why can't they just buy more ferries?
Because its not San Francisco?
</sarcasm>
BTW - I did not find Sicily "Impoverished" as the article claimed. Palermo was lovely. The countryside was sparsely populated but not ramshackle. The wine was excellent.
Sicily is loud, dirty and the Vespas will run you over in a heartbeat. The roadsides are full of trash.
The people are friendly, passionate, beautiful and the food is out of this world.
Recently I was in the water on the beaches of Teramino (sp?) and it was so clear I could see my toes in the water and the "toe" of the boot of Italy. The water was cool and refreshing. One of my favorite moments ever.
I can't wait to go back!
if you want to get a preview of what a young, beautiful girl will look like, see her mother. (no offense to moms)
What happens to Italian women as they age? Do they swap bodies in an alien space ship?
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