History

Stretto di Messina S.p.A.

Stretto di Messina S.p.A. is the State concessionaire company responsible for the design, construction, and management of the Strait of Messina Bridge. Founded in 1981, it has played a central role in the development of feasibility studies and project design, coordinating technical activities, institutional consultations, and tendering preparatory works, navigating through the political indecisions of successive governments.

DATA

Stretto di Messina S.p.A.

1981

FOUNDED

MEMBERS

672.5

CAPITAL mln/€

DETAILS

Stretto di Messina S.p.A.

Stretto di Messina S.p.A. is the concessionaire company established for the design, construction, and management of the permanent link between Sicily and Calabria. Its history reflects the technical, political, and economic complexities associated with a project that for decades has represented one of the greatest infrastructure challenges in Italy and Europe.

The company’s legal origin traces back to the foundational law No. 1158 of 1971, which for the first time defined the regulatory framework for building the bridge across the Strait. In the following years, the company promoted preliminary studies, environmental assessments, and projects that helped consolidate the technical know-how around such a large-scale undertaking.

The concession agreement was formalized through the Concession Agreement of 30 December 2003, supplemented by the First Additional Deed of 25 February 2004 and the Second Additional Deed of 30 November 2009, with related annexes. These instruments regulated the relationships between the concessionaire, the State, and industrial partners, defining timelines, methods, and responsibilities associated with the project’s realization.

In the 2000s, the company completed the definitive design of the single-span bridge, accompanied by technical opinions and evaluations, progressing to the awarding of works to the General Contractor. However, in 2013, the project was suspended and the company entered liquidation, by political decision of the then Monti Government.

The turning point came with Decree-Law No. 35/2023, strongly supported by the G. Meloni Government and Deputy Prime Minister M. Salvini, which updated and integrated the 1971 founding law, allowing the company to resume its activities. The measure redefined the governance and shareholding structure, restored the full effectiveness of the concession, and provided for the full restart of project activities. Today, Stretto di Messina S.p.A. is fully operational; after completing the complex approval process on 06 August 2025, it is set to begin the first construction phase as early as September 2025.

The updating activity provided for by Article 2, paragraph 8, of DL 35/2023 is currently underway, aimed at adapting the definitive design to the most recent standards in safety, environmental sustainability, and technological innovation.

The company’s history is thus a long sequence of advances and setbacks, which have nevertheless consolidated a unique heritage of expertise and studies. With the restart sanctioned in 2023, Stretto di Messina S.p.A. is preparing to lead one of the country’s most iconic and long-awaited projects, destined to transform mobility and territorial integration between Sicily and the mainland.

Stretto di Messina S.p.A. Timeline

1981 – Establishment of the Concessionaire Stretto di Messina S.p.A. with the objective of designing and building the Bridge.
1980s-1990s – Launch of feasibility studies, initial design hypotheses, and selection of technical solutions.
2002 – Presentation of the preliminary project, accompanied by opinions and authorizations.
2011 – Approval of the definitive project and launch of tender procedures for awarding works.
2013 – Suspension of activities and placement of the company into liquidation by political choice of the Monti Government.
2023 – D.L. 35/2023 reactivates Stretto di Messina S.p.A., as an “in-house” company with public participation.
2025 – The company, supervised by MIT and MEF, has been tasked with building the strategic infrastructure for Italy.