For Two Thousand Years, Italy Has Been Unable to Build a Much-Needed Bridge
In Italy, talks have once again begun about the construction of a bridge across the Strait of Messina, which is intended to connect Sicily with the mainland part of the country. The idea for such a bridge emerged back in the times of Ancient Rome, but two thousand years later, the project remains a subject of heated debate, writes The Guardian.
As far back as 251 BC, the Romans built a temporary bridge of boats and barrels across the strait to transport 140 war elephants captured from the Carthaginians. In the 20th century, the idea of constructing a permanent bridge was supported by Benito Mussolini and Silvio Berlusconi. In 2022, the project once again became one of the Italian government's priorities.
The construction of a modern bridge is preliminarily estimated at 13.5 billion euros. The start of works has been postponed several times: first to 2024, then to 2025 and 2026. In February, Transport Minister Matteo Salvini stated that construction should begin in summer, but so far there are no signs of work at the future construction site. More than 400 properties are planned for expropriation for the project's implementation.
If the bridge is eventually built, it will become the longest suspension bridge in the world. Its central span will be 3.3 kilometers long. The design includes six lanes for cars, two service lanes, and two railway tracks.
However, experts doubt the technical and seismic safety of such a massive structure. Engineers point out that the main suspension cables would be so large that their reliability cannot be fully verified by current methods. Webuild, the company responsible for the construction, claims that these concerns have already been addressed and refuted in a technical report.
The high seismic activity of the region poses an additional risk. Over the past 40 years, more than 5,000 small-magnitude earthquakes have been recorded within a 40-kilometer radius of the proposed construction site. According to the project, the bridge should be able to withstand earthquakes up to magnitude 7.1.
Furthermore, in early August, Italy's Superior Council of Public Works stated that the project could only be implemented after more than 100 additional requirements are met. These concern, in particular, seismic safety and testing of construction materials.
Environmentalists also oppose the project. They warn that the bridge could harm an important migratory corridor for birds and marine mammals. Millions of birds fly through this area during the spring migration over several weeks.
Some local residents also disagree, whose homes are planned to be demolished or purchased for construction. They fear that even preparatory work and the construction of roads and viaducts could irrevocably change the local landscape.
Thus, despite long-standing plans and a great need for a more convenient connection between Sicily and the mainland, the Messina Bridge project continues to face serious technical, environmental, financial, and political obstacles.
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