Messina Bridge
A Record-Breaking Story
The desire to unite Sicily and Calabria with permanent infrastructure dates back to Roman times. Later, in the nineteenth century, visionary engineers and politicians envisioned the connection as a symbol of progress and national unity, initiating the first studies. Since then, the idea of a permanent link has persisted through generations, and today it is poised to become reality, carrying an important historical legacy.
Historical Milestones
Messina Bridge
The idea of a bridge over the Strait officially emerged in the nineteenth century, when Italian unification made the issue of connections with Sicily urgent. As early as 1870, the first design concepts were proposed, but only in the twentieth century did structured studies begin. In the 1960s and 1970s the issue resurfaced strongly, tied to the economic development of the South.
In 1981, Stretto di Messina S.p.A. was established, tasked with developing the project. In subsequent years, preliminary studies, feasibility models, and the final project were prepared, which in 2013 was suspended by the Monti government. In 2023, the Meloni government reactivated the company and launched the process to complete the work by 2032.
The history of the Messina Bridge is therefore a path made of visions, difficulties, and new beginnings, which today converges in a synthesis: turning a centuries-old dream into one of the most iconic infrastructures of the 21st century.
IN DETAIL
Messina Bridge
YEAR
FIRST FEASIBILITY STUDIES
On August 6, 2025, the Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning and Sustainable Development (CIPESS) approved the definitive project for the Messina Strait Bridge. With the approval of this resolution, which declares the public utility of the work, the procedures for the executive design were initiated, and construction is expected to begin by the end of 2025 with the “Early Works”. DISCOVER +
YEAR
CONTRACT SIGNED WITH EUROLINK
On August 5, 2025, the contract for the construction of the Messina Strait Bridge was signed between Stretto di Messina S.p.A. and the Eurolink consortium. The agreement, signed just before the approval of the bridge’s definitive project by CIPESS on August 6, 2025, concerns the start of construction activities for the Messina Strait Bridge and its ancillary works, for a total value of 10.6 billion.
YEAR
PROGRAM AGREEMENT SIGNED
On July 16, 2025, at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, a program agreement was signed concerning preparatory and functional works for the Messina Strait Bridge. The agreement was signed with the participation of ministers, regional presidents, and CEOs of the involved entities, including Stretto di Messina S.p.A.
YEAR
CONSTRUCTION SITES OPENING
On December 23, 2009, announced in mid-October by the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Altero Matteoli, the first construction sites opened for preparatory activities related to the realization of the work and the area’s road system.
YEAR
CONSTRUCTION SITES OPENING
On December 23, 2009, announced in mid-October by the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Altero Matteoli, the first construction sites opened for preparatory activities related to the realization of the work and the area’s road system.
YEAR
CONFIRMATION OF STRATEGIC VALUE
In January, the Berlusconi Government confirmed the highly strategic value of the work and confirmed the start of construction for 2010. The bridge was supposed to open on January 1, 2017. The construction company Impregilo S.p.a. received a mandate from the Government, ANAS, and RFI to begin the executive design of the work as early as the first months of 2010, considered a preparatory activity for land expropriation and the opening of the actual construction sites.
YEAR
RISK OF CANCELLATION
The Prodi Government considered canceling the contract signed with Impregilo S.p.A.. The penalty of over 500 million euros pushed the then Minister of Transport Antonio Di Pietro to vote against his own majority and, with the votes of the opposition (center-right), avoid the contract termination, the merger of Stretto di Messina S.p.A. with ANAS, and the loss of decades of studies and designs, which are still valid today.
YEAR
CONTRACT SIGNED
March – Impregilo S.p.A. signs the contract for the definitive design, construction, and management of the bridge. Contracts are also signed with other supplier companies.
YEAR
EUROLINK WINS THE TENDER
October – the Temporary Business Association Eurolink S.C.p.A., led by Impregilo S.p.A., wins the tender, called by the second Berlusconi Government, for the realization of the work. The ATI, as General Contractor, submitted the winning bid of 3.88 billion euros.
YEAR
PRELIMINARY PROJECT PRESENTED
The preliminary project and the corrected Environmental Impact Study necessary for the realization of the bridge are presented to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the Ministry of the Environment and Land Protection.
The project, in its final version, forms the basis for the tender for the realization of the work.
YEAR
EIA UPDATE TENDER ISSUED
The tender for updating the Environmental Impact Study of the work is issued. Stretto di Messina S.p.A. formulates a project partially different from the 1992 one.
YEAR
DECLARED STRATEGIC INFRASTRUCTURE
The CIPE defines the work as a “strategic infrastructure” for the country.
YEAR
FEASIBILITY DECLARED
The appointed Advisors deliver their reports on the project, defining it as feasible.
YEAR
INDEPENDENT ADVISORS IDENTIFIED
The CIPE identifies two independent advisors for the final evaluation of the bridge’s feasibility: Steinman Int. – Parson Group, tasked with defining the technical aspects, and a ATI (led by Price Waterhouse Coopers) tasked with examining the territorial, environmental, social, economic, and financial issues of the work.
YEAR
PARLIAMENT DECIDES TO REFER THE DOCUMENTS TO CIPE
The Chamber and the Senate extensively debate the advisability of building the Messina Bridge. Parliament decides to refer the preliminary project to CIPE (Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning) to evaluate its concrete realization.
YEAR
EXECUTIVE DESIGN APPROVAL
ANAS and FS express a new favorable opinion on the project. The Superior Council of Public Works, after the unanimous approval of the project, authorizes the study for the executive design of the Messina Bridge.
YEAR
TECHNICAL EXAMINATION OF PROJECT COMPLETED
First F.S. and then ANAS complete the technical examination of the Preliminary Project and express a generally favorable opinion. Further study of some technological aspects is requested.
YEAR
FINAL PRELIMINARY PROJECT AND EIA PRESENTED
During the first Berlusconi Government – Minister of Transport Publio Fiori – a new definitive preliminary project, more complete and detailed than the one presented in 1986, is presented. The project also includes detailed technical reports, cost estimates, execution timelines, and the environmental impact assessment.
YEAR
FINAL PRELIMINARY PROJECT AND EIA PRESENTED
During the first Berlusconi Government – Minister of Transport Publio Fiori – a new definitive preliminary project, more complete and detailed than the one presented in 1986, is presented. The project also includes detailed technical reports, cost estimates, execution timelines, and the environmental impact assessment.
YEAR
TWO PRELIMINARY PROJECTS PRESENTED
The “Stretto di Messina” Company presents two preliminary outline projects with two different solutions: a two-span suspension bridge and a single-span suspension bridge. The latter is the chosen solution due to the greater guarantees it offers.
YEAR
COMPETENT AUTHORITIES OPT FOR SINGLE SPAN
The Board of Directors of FS expresses a favorable opinion for the single-span suspension bridge. This option is shared by all involved competent Authorities including FS, the Superior Council of Public Works, and ANAS, for whom the crossing of the Strait of Messina can only occur via an aerial mode with a single span of 3300m. The solution offers safety, lower cost, reduced implementation time, and easy and economical maintenance.
YEAR
THREE CROSSING SOLUTIONS PRESENTED
Stretto di Messina S.p.A. presents projects, costs, and reliability analyses related to three different solutions for crossing the Strait of Messina: underground, underwater, aerial. Among the projects, all deemed feasible and reliable, the single-span bridge solution is evaluated as technically achievable and economically advantageous. The President of IRI Romano Prodi states that the bridge is a priority and that work will be completed by 1996.
YEAR
AGREEMENT STIPULATED WITH ANAS AND FS
The Craxi Government expresses the intention to build the bridge shortly. On December 27, 1985, Stretto di Messina S.p.A. stipulates an agreement with ANAS and FS for the study, preparation of the Messina Bridge project, construction, and operation of the permanent link.
YEAR
THREE CROSSING SOLUTIONS PRESENTED
Stretto di Messina S.p.A. presents detailed projects, costs, and reliability analyses related to three different types of technical solutions for crossing the Strait of Messina: underground, underwater, aerial. The projects are all found to be feasible and reliable. The single-span bridge solution is evaluated as technically achievable and economically advantageous. The President of IRI Romano Prodi states that the bridge is a priority and that work will be completed by 1996.
YEAR
CABLE-STAYED BRIDGE PROJECT
The Lambertini Group presents to the newly established Concessionaire Stretto di Messina S.p.A. its own cable-stayed bridge project that envisages only two pylons in the sea. This solution allows for a wide navigation channel with three large spans of 600 m – 1800 m – 600 m respectively.
YEAR
STATE CONCESSIONAIRE ESTABLISHED
The Concessionaire Stretto di Messina S.p.A. is established with financial participation from ITALSTAT, IRI at 51%, and with Ferrovie dello Stato, ANAS, the Sicilian Region, and the Calabria Region in equal shares of 12.25% each. The State Concessionaire is entrusted with all activities related to the project design, realization, and future management.
YEAR
AUTHORIZATION FOR ESTABLISHING A CONCESSIONAIRE
The Colombo Government approves law no. 1158/71 which authorizes the creation of a private law company with public capital, as concessionaire for the design, construction, and management of the permanent road and rail link between Sicily and the Mainland.
YEAR
IDEAS COMPETITION ANNOUNCED
The Ministry of Public Works with Ministerial Decree 134 announces an “International ideas competition” for a project for a permanent road and rail crossing of the Strait.
143 projects are submitted, 125 of which are by Italian designers.
YEAR
EXPLORATORY MANDATE TO FS, ANAS AND CNR
With law 384/68, ANAS, Ferrovie dello Stato, and CNR are tasked with acquiring further elements of judgment regarding the concrete feasibility of the enterprise.
YEAR
SUBMARINE PASSAGE
Commander Filippo Corridoni presents, without follow-up, the project for a huge steel tube for submarine rail and vehicular transit.
YEAR
SUSPENSION BRIDGE BETWEEN PUNTA FARO AND PUNTA PEZZO
General of the Naval Engineering Corps, Antonino Calabretta, presents a project for a suspension bridge between Punta Faro and Punta Pezzo;
YEAR
TUNNEL UNDER THE STRAIT
Engineer Emerico Vismara presents to the Geographical Congress in Florence the study for an underground tunnel to be built under the Strait of Messina.
YEAR
FIVE-SPAN SUSPENSION BRIDGE
A suspension bridge project, articulated in five spans, was studied, without follow-up, by a group of engineers from Ferrovie dello Stato.
YEAR
SUBMARINE CONNECTION
Engineer Carlo Navone proposes a long 22 km submarine connection. The ambitious project envisages tunnel entry at Contesse and, at 150 meters, passing under Messina and Ganzirri, then crossing the strait to Punta Pezzo and then rising to Torre Cavallo.
YEAR
MINISTERIAL MANDATE CONFERRED
The Minister of Public Works Jacini tasks engineer Alfredo Cottrau, a technician of international fame, with studying a bridge project between Calabria and Sicily.
YEAR
FIRST FEASIBILITY STUDIES
Roger II (King of Sicily from 1140) had explorations carried out in the Strait to study the currents and the feasibility of a bridge between the two shores.