Italy Approves World’s Longest Suspension Bridge Linking Sicily to Mainland, Reclassifies Project as Military Spending

by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff

(Worthy News) – Italy’s government has officially approved a €13.5 billion ($15.6 billion) plan to construct the world’s longest suspension bridge, connecting the island of Sicily to the mainland over the Strait of Messina. Long debated, often canceled, and frequently politicized, the project is now being fast-tracked with a new justification: national security.

At 2.05 miles long, the single-span bridge will surpass all global records, linking the impoverished southern region of Calabria to Sicily in what officials are hailing as a “development accelerator.” The structure will feature two 1,310-foot-high steel towers, six lanes for vehicles, and two central railway tracks. Its design is engineered to withstand the powerful currents, winds, and seismic activity of the Strait, which lies atop two tectonic plates.

“This is more than a bridge—it’s a symbol of unity, progress, and security,” Infrastructure Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini declared at a press conference. “It’s clear that it can have dual use, also for security purposes.”

By emphasizing its military relevance, the Italian government is classifying the bridge as a defense project, allowing it to count the cost toward NATO spending commitments. Under pressure from allies, particularly the United States under President Donald Trump, Rome has pledged to raise military spending to 5% of its GDP over the next decade. Of that, 1.5% is permitted for defense-related infrastructure, and the Messina bridge—positioned near key NATO installations—is expected to qualify.

Once completed—estimated by 2032—the bridge will enable faster rail mobilization of armed forces to Sicily, a strategically vital Mediterranean outpost. The government also projects it will create tens of thousands of jobs and stimulate economic growth in the historically neglected South.

The project will be led by Italian construction giant Webuild, which previously worked on expanding the Panama Canal. Webuild’s consortium, Eurolink, originally won the bridge tender in 2006, only to see it canceled during the eurozone debt crisis. Now reinstated, Eurolink remains the primary contractor.

First envisioned in the 19th century and formally studied in the 1950s, the idea of bridging the Strait of Messina has long been seen as a way to foster national unity. Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi revived the idea twice—first in 2001 and again in 2011—before both efforts collapsed under political and financial pressure.

Despite the green light, opposition remains fierce. Environmentalists warn of irreversible damage to local ecosystems, while critics argue the billions could be better spent on more urgent infrastructure and social needs. Skeptics also question whether the bridge will ever materialize, given Italy’s history of incomplete mega-projects.

Still, the government appears determined to defy past failures. “This time,” Salvini insisted, “we’re building the bridge.”

Latest Worthy News