Sicily Set to Connect with Mainland Italy via the World’s Longest Suspension Bridge
In a long-awaited move, the Italian government officially launched the construction of a massive new bridge across the Strait of Messina on Tuesday, August 6, 2025. Once completed, the structure will become the longest suspension bridge in the world. It will also be the first permanent road and rail link between Sicily and mainland Italy.
A Bold Structure Stretching 3,666 Meters
The bridge will span 3,666 meters, linking the cities of Messina in Sicily and Calabria in southern Italy. It has an estimated budget of €13.5 billion.
Its design includes:
- Six traffic lanes (three in each direction)
- Two railway tracks
- Two service lanes
The structure is expected to handle heavy daily traffic. It will accommodate up to 6,000 vehicles per hour and 200 trains per day.
Built to Withstand Nature’s Extremes
The bridge will rely on two steel towers, each 399 meters tall. In addition, it will use suspension cables measuring 1.26 meters in diameter and 5,320 meters long, a feat described by the contractors as an “engineering first.”
Designed to endure strong seismic activity and winds up to 292 km/h, the bridge will be equipped with a smart monitoring system. This system allows for predictive maintenance and early issue detection.
More Than a Bridge: A Regional Transformation
The project is being carried out by the Eurolink consortium. It is led by Webuild (Italy) and includes IHI (Japan), Sacyr (Spain), along with Italian firms Condotte and Itinera.
Beyond the bridge itself, the project includes upgrades to 40 km of roads and railway lines. It also entails three new train stations in Messina and a multifunctional hub in Calabria.
A Dream Half a Century in the Making
The idea of connecting Sicily to the mainland dates back to 1969, but construction never began.
In 2006, Eurolink was awarded the design and build contract. However, the project was halted by a government decree in October 2012. It wasn’t until March 2023 that the plan was revived and officially reactivated.
Speaking on the relaunch, Pietro Salini, CEO of Webuild, commented:
“This project marks the beginning of a new chapter filled with vision, courage, and renewed confidence in the power of Italian industry and infrastructure.”
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
The Strait of Messina Bridge project introduces an unprecedented architectural vision for long-span, multimodal infrastructure. Visuals highlight the monumental steel towers and oversized suspension cables, while the bridge deck flows seamlessly between land and island. Yet, despite its visual grandeur, questions remain. These questions concern the design’s cultural and geographical integration—particularly given the seismic conditions and historical identity of the region. Nevertheless, the incorporation of predictive maintenance systems signals a shift toward future-ready infrastructure. Such infrastructure goes beyond aesthetics to address performance and sustainability in a meaningful way.
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