Posted on 08/12/2025 12:42:01 PM PDT by Red Badger
A concept design of the Strait of Messina Bridge (Ponte Stretto Messina) between Sicily and mainland Italy. Image credit: WeBuild Group
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Italy's long-standing dream to build the world’s longest suspension bridge between the mainland and the island of Sicily has just moved one step closer to becoming reality.
On August 6, the Italian government gave its final approval to build the Strait of Messina Bridge (Ponte sullo Stretto di Messina) between Sicily to the southern region of Calabria on the tip of Italy's boot.
Costing an estimated €13.5 billion ($15.8 billion), the bridge is planned to stretch 3,300 meters (10,827 feet) across the strait, supported by two 399-meter (1,309-foot) tall towers.
Suspension bridges like this use cables hung from these towers to carry the weight of the roadway. The load is transferred from the deck through the cables to the towers, which then distribute the forces down into the ground, allowing the bridge to span long distances without the need for too many supports in the water.
The bridge is set to have three traffic lanes in each direction, including an emergency lane, two service lanes, and two rail tracks with sidewalks. Along with the bridge itself, the project also involves constructing an integrated infrastructure network, featuring 40 kilometers (25 miles) of new roads and rail lines, three underground train stations, about ten viaducts, and multiple tunnels.
Italy's Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, one of the project’s big political backers, has reportedly dubbed it “the biggest infrastructure project in the West.”
“Today, Italy has shown once again how it can come together around a mega project that will be transformative for the whole country,” Pietro Salini, Chief Executive of Webuild, the Italian engineering company tasked with the job, said in a statement.
“The Bridge will bring about a great infrastructure project spread out across many work sites contemporaneously. It will stimulate growth, employment and lawfulness across southern Italy. The project will be fitted with the most advanced technologies for safety and maintenance,” he added.
An astronaut onboard the International Space Station took this picture of Italy and its island of Sicily while cruising over the Mediterranean Sea. Image credit: ISS/NASA
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If and when completed, it will be significantly longer than that of the world’s current longest suspension bridge, the 2,023-meter (6,637-foot) long 1915 Çanakkale Bridge that connects the European and Asian continents within Turkey.
The “if and when” of building a bridge across the Strait of Messina has long been a point of debate. Discussions about such a crossing literally date back to ancient times. Nearly 2,000 years ago, a famed Roman scholar called Pliny the Elder recounted a story of a temporary bridge built to transport war elephants captured from Carthage in 251 BCE. While this is almost certainly a legend, the idea has endured through the centuries.
The notion resurfaced in the 1860s during Italy’s unification and continued to captivate politicians well into the late 20th century. In the current era of right-wing populism, the project has been revived once more, promoted as a catalyst to stimulate Southern Italy, which remains considerably less developed than the north.
Many remain unconvinced. Local opposition groups and thousands of protestors have voiced a range of concerns, from environmental and aesthetic impacts to arguments that the funds could be better spent elsewhere. Some cost-benefit analysis indicates the megaproject may never regain enough revenue to offset its multibillion-euro price tag. It’s estimated that over 440 properties on both sides of the bridge will need to be expropriated, a controversial move currently being challenged in the courts.
Even without politics getting in the way, building a suspension bridge of this scale poses significant engineering challenges. The Strait of Messina is known for strong winds, seismic activity, and deep waters, all of which complicate construction and long-term stability. Engineers will need to ensure the structure can withstand earthquakes, which aren't unheard of in the region, while addressing corrosion from the salty marine environment.
Despite these awkward hurdles, the government in Rome seems determined to realize a vision centuries in the making.
“Seems like this should have been done decades ago.”
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It would have, but an enterprising crew drove a slightly-modified VW beetle across in the same spot...
I drove over it not knowing about it. My thoughts were when does this end and it kept going and going.
“$15.8 Billion doesn’t sound that bad”
.
Probably, like Oakland’s, will be made in china...
The longest span of the Mackinac is only
3,800 ft (1,158 m)
Only the center span of the Bay Bridge is a suspension bridge. What is interesting about the Bay Bridge is that three different types of bridge construction; Truss, Cantilever and Suspension.
Yes. I’ve been over it three or four times; it’s kind of overwhelming and scares me :-)
I get a bit of that feeling on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel ... at least that monotony is broken up by the two tunnel sections.
Yes I have driven that too and I agree. The causeway was a surprise to me not having any idea of the scope of it for a first timer.
Wikipedia says the same thing:
If built, it will be the longest suspension bridge in the world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Messina_Bridge
On the list of world’s longest suspension bridges, Mackinac is #29:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_longest_suspension_bridge_spans#Completed_suspension_bridges
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackinac_Bridge
Okay, I figured it out. The Mackinac Bridge includes a long causeway not supported by the suspension, so it’s not included as part of the suspension.............
It’s #20.................
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_longest_suspension_bridge_spans#Completed_suspension_bridges
So now the third-world invaders can simply walk across the bridge to Italy.
They won’t survive the Sicilians.................
Agreed.
From what I understand there are now three separate Italian Mafia groups that control southern Italy.
One that controls Sicily. Another that controls from Naples down to Calabria(the tip of the boot). The other controls Apuila up the Adriatic coast.
They control the importation/distribution of drugs because they control the container ports in those regions.
They also control the illegal immigrants that are selling knock off merchandise on the streets of the major cities in the south.
They may also be extorting businesses for protection/operating overhead. “It’s a nice place you got here, it would be a shame if something happened to it.”
They may also be involved in the construction businesses. Which could directly affect this bridge construction project. Especially if these bridge components are being manufactured elsewhere and brought into the ports in Calabria.
What they are not doing is kidnapping people in Rome like back in the 1970s.
I have actually considered buying a property in Calabria along the Med. This is because you can buy water view houses/townhouses/apartments within a 1/2 mile of the coast for under $400K. Places that would be multiple million here.
I spoke briefly with an agent. One of the questions I asked was do you have to PAY for PROTECTION of your property? So, that it does not get robbed when you are not there. He said not necessarily. But it wouldn’t be a bad idea. Which means yes.
The problem with the area is that the local youths have very high unemployment. Much higher than northern Italy. So, they would probably not have an issues with breaking into and stealing from a house owned by a “rich American”.
Probably better to rent.
Good thing it didn’t get the boot.
But cruise ships don't sail under them.
Just don't let any Costa cruise ships anywhere near this bridge.
-PJ
They have a service where they will provide a driver to get you over.
Yes, I remember; but just going over it freaks me out :-)
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