Rome (AP) – Thousands of people on Saturday marched in the Sicilian city of Messina to protest and A government plan to build a bridge This would connect the Italian mainland with Sicily in a massive infrastructure project of EUR 13.5 billion ($ 15.5 billion).
Demonstrators oppose the Bridge Strait of Messina project, the threat of earthquakes, environmental impact and mafia.
The idea of building a bridge for connecting Sicily with the rest of Italy has been discussed for decades, but has always been delayed because of these concerns. However, the project took the main step forward when the Government Committee oversees strategic public investments this week approved the plan.
Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini, the main political supporter of the project, called it “the largest infrastructure project in the West”.
Salvini quoted a study of estimation that the project would create up to 120,000 jobs annually and help stimulate economic growth in economically lagging in southern Italy, because billions of others are invested in the surrounding improvements of roads and infrastructure.
The opponents are not convinced of these arguments. They are also angry that about 500 families would have to be expropriated for the bridge to be built.
“The Strait of Messina cannot be touched,” the protesters shouted as they marched in Messy. Many of the banners that said “no ponte” (no bridge). The organizers estimate the size of the crowd at 10,000 people.
The proposed bridge would cover almost 3.7 kilometers (2.2 miles) with a suspended part of 3.3 km (more than 2 miles). It would overcome the Turkish Bridge by Canakkale by 1 277 meters (4 189 feet) to become the longest suspended bridge in the world.
Pre -work could start at the end of September or early October until approval from the Italian court for audit. Complete construction is scheduled for the beginning of 2026, with completion between 2032 and 2033.
Plans for the bridge were approved and abolished several times since the Italian government first required proposals for one in 1969. The administration of the premiere of Giorgia Meloni revived this project in 2023.
With three lanes in each direction lined with a double trace railway, the bridge should carry the capacity of 6,000 cars per hour and 200 trains a day-when the strait by ferry is exceeded from up to 100 minutes to 10 minutes. Trains would save 2/12 hours at the time of transport, Salvini said.
The project could also support Italy’s commitment to increase defense spending on 5% of NATO GDP, as the government indicated that it would classify the bridge as a defense.
Italy claims that the bridge would create a strategic corridor for quick movements of soldiers and the deployment of equipment, which qualifies it as a “infrastructure increasing safety”.
However, environmental groups filed complaints about the EU and undressed that the project would affect migration birds.
The Italian President also insisted that the project remains the subject of legislation against the mafia, which applies to all extensive infrastructure projects. Salvini committed that maintaining organized crime from the project was the highest priority.
(Tagstotranslate) Strait of Messina Bridge (T) Infrastructure Project (T) Sicily (T)
