Italy Approves World’s Longest Suspension Bridge to Link Sicily with Mainland

The Italian government has greenlit a EUR 13.5 billion project to build the world’s longest single-span suspension bridge, connecting mainland Italy to Sicily across the Strait of Messina. Approved on Wednesday, the 3,666-metre bridge, featuring a 3,300-metre central span, will link Villa San Giovanni in Calabria to Messina in Sicily.

With six traffic lanes, two railway tracks, and a completion date set for 2032, the bridge aims to transform mobility for over 5 million residents. Despite concerns from Italy’s largest labour union about technical, environmental, and seismic risks, and potential organised crime involvement, the project includes 40km of new roads and railways. Construction is slated to begin in May 2026, marking a significant step in enhancing Southern Italy’s connectivity within the European transport network.

TECHNICAL FEATURES

Central suspended span: 3,300 m
Total length: 3,666 m (including the two side spans of 183 m each)
Height of the towers on both banks: 399 m
Suspension cables: 4 with a diameter of 1.26 m (each made up of 44,323 steel wires)
Deck width: 60.4 m (3 road lanes in each direction, 2 service lanes and 2 railway tracks)
Free navigable: 72 meters for a width of 600 meters which, in ordinary operating conditions, i.e. when the road lanes are fully loaded and with two passenger trains at the same time, reaches 70 meters.
Open to traffic 365 days a year, 24 hours a day
Service life: 200 years
40 km of road and rail links