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Thousands protest against plan to build world's longest bridge connecting Sicily to Italy

2025-08-10 21:09:10Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

 

Thousands protest against plan to build world's longest bridge connecting
Scenes from the protest

 

Thousands of citizens marched in Sicily to protest against the Italian government's plan to build a bridge that would connect mainland Italy with the Mediterranean island of Sicily, a project that would create the longest arch bridge in the world.

Reuters writes that about 10,000 protesters took part in the march held on Saturday in the city of Messina to oppose the infrastructure project worth 13.5 billion euros ($15.7 billion).

Citizens are against the proposed project for a bridge over the Strait of Messina, due to its large size, earthquake risk, environmental impact and the possibility of mafia involvement.

The idea of building this bridge has been discussed for decades, but this week the project took a major step forward when a government committee overseeing strategic public investments approved the plan.

Transport Minister Matteo Salvini called it "the biggest infrastructure project in the West."

Salvini cited studies that predict the project will create up to 120,000 jobs a year and help boost economic development in southern Italy, while billions of euros more will be invested in roads and other infrastructure improvements.

However, critics are not convinced and are angry that around 500 families will have to be relocated to make way for the bridge. Salvini has promised that these families will be compensated.

“The Strait of Messina is not touched!” protesters chanted during the march. Many carried banners reading “No Ponte” (No Bridge).

 

Thousands protest against plan to build world's longest bridge connecting
Bridge project

 

“They can offer me three times the value of my house, but I don’t care. What I care about is the landscape. They shouldn’t touch the Strait of Messina,” Mariolina De Francesco, 75, a Messina resident whose home is near where one of the bridge’s 399-meter-high land towers is planned to be built, told The Associated Press.

"Our lawyers will intervene and stop them. That's for sure," she added.

The proposed bridge will stretch for nearly 3.7 kilometers (2.3 miles), with a suspended section of 3.3 kilometers, more than 2 miles, surpassing the Çanakkale Bridge in Turkey by 1,277 meters, to become the longest suspension bridge in the world.

Preliminary works could begin in late September or early October, pending approval from the Court. Full construction is scheduled to begin in 2026 and be completed between 2032 and 2033.

The bridge would reduce the time it takes to cross the strait by ferry, which currently takes up to 100 minutes, to just 10 minutes by car. Trains would save up to 2.5 hours of travel, Salvini said.

The Italian government also aims to classify the bridge as a project of national defense importance, in line with NATO's goal of increasing military spending to 5% of GDP. The government also argues that the bridge will create a strategic corridor for the rapid movement of troops and military equipment, describing it as "security-enhancing infrastructure."

Thousands protest against plan to build world's longest bridge connecting
A drone view shows Lake Ganzirri, part of the planned site for the construction of a suspension bridge across the Strait of Messina, connecting Sicily to mainland Italy, whose construction is expected to be completed by 2032, in Messina, Italy.

Meanwhile, environmental organizations have filed complaints with the European Union, expressing concerns that the project will affect bird migration.

The Italian president has also requested that the project be subject to anti-mafia law, which applies to all major infrastructure projects.

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