Residents Unite Against Proposed Bridge, Citing Concerns Over Scale, Earthquake Risks, Environmental Impact, and Mafia Interference
Around 10,000 demonstrators gathered in the Sicilian city of Messina to voice their opposition to the €13.5 billion infrastructure project, the Strait of Messina Bridge.
The community’s resistance stems from concerns over the bridge’s massive scale, the threat of earthquakes, the potential environmental consequences, and the risk of mafia involvement.
Although the proposal to build the bridge has been under discussion for decades, it took a significant step forward when a government committee endorsed the initiative. Transport Minister Matteo Salvini hailed the project as “the biggest infrastructure project in the West,” claiming it would generate up to 120,000 jobs annually and boost economic growth in Southern Italy by prompting additional investments in infrastructure.
However, critics remain unconvinced and worry that the project would displace approximately 500 families due to land requisition. Salvini has assured that the affected families will be compensated.
Protesters firmly stance against the bridge, chanting, “The Strait of Messina can’t be touched,” and many carried banners with the message “No Bridge.”
Mariolina De Francesco, a 75-year-old resident of Messina whose home is close to the proposed site of one of the bridge’s planned 399-meter-tall land towers, told The Associated Press, “They could offer me three times the value of my house, but that doesn’t matter to me. What matters is the landscape. They must not touch the Strait of Messina.”
“Our lawyers will take action, and we will stop them. That’s guaranteed,” she stated.
Spanning nearly 3.7km (2.3 miles) with a suspended section of 3.3km, the proposed bridge would dwarf the current record holder. Preliminary work is expected to start in late September or early October, pending Italy’s Court of Audit approval, with full construction set to begin in 2026 and be completed between 2032 and 2033.
The completed bridge would cut the crossing time via ferry, usually up to 100 minutes, down to 10 minutes by car. Trains would save 2.5 hours. Salvini also emphasizes the project’s potential to support Italy’s defense objectives by declaring the bridge as defense-related infrastructure.
Nevertheless, environmental groups have lodged complaints to the European Union, raising concerns about the project’s impact on migratory birds. The Italian President also wants the project to adhere to anti-mafia legislation applicable to all large-scale infrastructure projects.
![A drone view shows Lake Ganzirri, part of the planned site for the construction of a suspension bridge along the Strait of Messina, connecting Sicily to mainland Italy, with construction expected to be completed by 2032, in Messina, Italy [File: Yara Nardi/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/reuters_689836b8-1754805944.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C578&quality=80)
