Italy constructs the globe's longest suspension bridges, eclipsing other grand-scale projects - Massive Suspension Bridge Erected in Italy - Construction Happening under Shadowy Conditions
The Italian government has given the green light for a monumental infrastructure project that promises to reshape the landscape of engineering feats: the construction of a bridge connecting Sicily to the mainland. This ambitious project, slated for completion by 2032, will cost an estimated €13.5 billion and will be classified as defense expenditure by the Italian government.
The Strait of Messina Bridge, as it will be known, will stretch an impressive 3,300 meters, making it the longest suspension bridge in the world upon completion. This behemoth will dwarf the current record holders, such as the Canakkale Bridge in Turkey and the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge in Japan, pushing them off the top 10 list of the world's longest suspension bridges.
The bridge will feature four lanes for road traffic and railway tracks, offering significant advances in length and capacity. It revives a decades-long plan to connect Sicily with mainland Italy, a venture that has eluded engineers for half a century.
However, the project has not been without controversy. Protests have arisen, with concerns about the environmental impact and the potential for the funds to be spent more effectively elsewhere. The bridge's construction is also causing several suspension bridges in Italy, specifically in Sicily, to be pushed down the list in terms of length.
Eurolink, the consortium that won the tender for the bridge construction back in 2006, is the current contractor for the project. The bridge will span between two 400-meter-high towers and will have two tracks in the middle for railway and three lanes on each side for road traffic.
The Strait of Messina Bridge is expected to bring economic growth and jobs to Sicily and Calabria, two of Italy's poorest regions. The Italian government, despite high debts, has committed to increasing its defense spending to five percent of its gross domestic product (GDP). This includes spending 1.5 percentage points on "defense-relevant" areas such as cybersecurity and infrastructure.
Rome points out that there is a NATO base on Sicily, which could potentially benefit from the increased connectivity provided by the bridge. The bridge construction is a significant step forward in Italy's infrastructure development, and it is set to redefine the world's longest suspension bridges when it is completed.
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The Commission, assisted by the European Parliament, may scrutinize the financial aspects of the construction project, given its defense expenditure classification and the significant funds involved in building the Strait of Messina Bridge. In the context of industry and transportation, this infrastructural undertaking is expected to foster economic growth and job creation, particularly in Sicily and Calabria, target regions for development endeavors.
