Strait of Messina Bridge
Updated: 12/11/2025, 2:59:55 PM Wikipedia source
The Strait of Messina Bridge (Italian: Ponte sullo stretto di Messina) is a proposed 3.6-kilometre (2+1⁄4 mi) suspension bridge across the Strait of Messina, connecting Torre Faro on the Italian island of Sicily with Villa San Giovanni in Calabria on the Italian mainland. If built, it would be the longest suspension bridge in the world and part of the Berlin–Palermo railway axis of the Trans-European Transport Networks. While a bridge across the Strait of Messina had been proposed since ancient times, the first detailed plan was made in the 1990s, for a suspension bridge. The project was cancelled in 2006 under Prime Minister Romano Prodi, revived in 2009 under Silvio Berlusconi, and cancelled again in 2013 under Mario Monti. It was resurrected again in 2023 under Giorgia Meloni and received final government approval in August 2025. However, in October, Italy's Court of Audit rejected the proposal. The proposal has drawn concerns connected with earthquakes, strong currents in the strait, disruption of bird migration routes, and a possibility of infiltration into the bridge's construction by the mafia groups Cosa Nostra and 'Ndrangheta.
Infobox
Coordinates
mw- 38°14′51″N 15°38′21″E / 38.24750°N 15.63917°E / 38.24750; 15.63917
Carries
Six lanes and two emergency lanes; two rail tracks and two railway sidewalks.
Crosses
Strait of Messina
Locale
Messina and Villa San Giovanni
Design
Suspension bridge
Total length
3,666 metres (12,028 ft)
Height
399 metres (1,309 ft) (pylons)
Longest span
3,300 metres (10,800 ft)
Clearance below
76 metres (249 ft)
Designer
Stretto di Messina
Construction start
2025 (projected)
Construction end
2032 (projected)
Tables
Contract of the Messina Bridge · Modern attempts to build the bridge › First Berlusconi government › Contracting parties
General contractor Eurolink
General contractor Eurolink
Function
General contractor Eurolink
Companies
Webuild (Impregilo until 2012)
Role
Group leader (45%)
IHI Infrastructure Systems Co., Ltd.
IHI Infrastructure Systems Co., Ltd.
Function
IHI Infrastructure Systems Co., Ltd.
Companies
Mandator
COWI A/S
COWI A/S
Function
COWI A/S
Companies
Mandator
Sacyr
Sacyr
Function
Sacyr
Companies
Mandator
Società Italiana per Condotte d'Acqua
Società Italiana per Condotte d'Acqua
Function
Società Italiana per Condotte d'Acqua
Companies
Mandator
Cooperativa Muratori & Cementisti
Cooperativa Muratori & Cementisti
Function
Cooperativa Muratori & Cementisti
Companies
Mandator
Argo Costruzioni Infrastrutture
Argo Costruzioni Infrastrutture
Function
Argo Costruzioni Infrastrutture
Companies
Mandator
Dissing+Weitling
Dissing+Weitling
Function
Dissing+Weitling
Companies
Mandator
Sund & Bælt A/S
Sund & Bælt A/S
Function
Sund & Bælt A/S
Companies
Mandator
Buckland & Taylor
Buckland & Taylor
Function
Buckland & Taylor
Companies
Mandator
Project management
Project management
Function
Project management
Companies
Parsons Corporation
Environmental monitoring
Environmental monitoring
Function
Environmental monitoring
Companies
Fenice
Role
Group leader
Agriconsulting
Agriconsulting
Function
Agriconsulting
Companies
Mandator
Eurisko NOP World
Eurisko NOP World
Function
Eurisko NOP World
Companies
Mandator
Nautilus Società Cooperativa
Nautilus Società Cooperativa
Function
Nautilus Società Cooperativa
Companies
Mandator
Theolab
Theolab
Function
Theolab
Companies
Mandator
Insurance broker
Insurance broker
Function
Insurance broker
Companies
Marsh
| Function | Companies | Role |
| General contractor Eurolink | Webuild (Impregilo until 2012) | Group leader (45%) |
| IHI Infrastructure Systems Co., Ltd. | Mandator | |
| COWI A/S | Mandator | |
| Sacyr | Mandator | |
| Società Italiana per Condotte d'Acqua | Mandator | |
| Cooperativa Muratori & Cementisti | Mandator | |
| Argo Costruzioni Infrastrutture | Mandator | |
| Dissing+Weitling | Mandator | |
| Sund & Bælt A/S | Mandator | |
| Buckland & Taylor | Mandator | |
| Project management | Parsons Corporation | |
| Environmental monitoring | Fenice | Group leader |
| Agriconsulting | Mandator | |
| Eurisko NOP World | Mandator | |
| Nautilus Società Cooperativa | Mandator | |
| Theolab | Mandator | |
| Insurance broker | Marsh |
References
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