No construction has begun on Italy’s €13.5 billion Messina bridge despite promises to break ground by summer 2026, leaving more than 400 homes still awaiting possible expropriation.
More than 100 conditions set in early August by Italy’s Higher Council of Public Works added to existing obstacles from environmental objections, a Rome corruption probe and court of auditors scrutiny over costs and EU compliance.
Technical doubts have sharpened because the planned 3.3 km central span would far exceed any existing suspension bridge, while engineers and seismologists question cable testing, long-term safety and resilience in a region hit by 5,000 small quakes in 40 years.
Webuild and the Strait of Messina company say the bridge can withstand earthquakes up to magnitude 7.1 and would generate more than €23 billion for the economy, 100,000 jobs and €10.3 billion in tax revenue.
The repeated delays have turned the project into a political test for Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini as Lega trails a rising rival party by just 0.5 percentage points.