Italy is about to undertake a massive infrastructure project over 2,000 years in the making.
What happened: The Italian government gave the go-ahead to build a €13.5 billion bridge connecting the island of Sicily to the mainland by 2033. Dubbed the Strait of Messina Bridge, it would be nearly 3.7 kilometres long, making it the longest suspension bridge in the world.
- The Italian government first solicited proposals to construct the bridge in 1969, with later plans to revive the project in 2006 and 2013 both hitting dead-ends.
- The idea of building such a bridge goes all the way back to Ancient Rome. Famed philosopher Pliny the Elder even wrote about making one with boats and barrels.
Why it matters: Italy’s south has been historically impoverished compared to the north, and Sicily in particular has been slow to open up its economy to global markets. The government believes that creating a direct link to the mainland, and in turn all of Europe, will help stimulate growth.
- And, in a bid to have the project contribute to its NATO defence spending target, Italy is floating its military impact, saying the bridge can be used to rapidly mobilize troops.
Yes, but: The bridge has lots of naysayers shouting fuhgeddaboudit. Environmentalists argue construction will disrupt the strait’s ecosystem, locals worry that it will lead to overtourism, and other critics fear it will benefit the Mafia, which has deep construction industry ties.—QH