Overview
- CIPESS approval authorises archaeological and geological surveys along the strait and enables land expropriations ahead of main construction slated for late 2025.
- The Eurolink consortium led by Webuild will erect a 3.3 km single-span suspension bridge featuring two 400 m towers, six traffic lanes and two railway lines.
- Rome plans to classify the bridge as defence infrastructure so its cost counts toward NATO’s 5 percent GDP military spending target under the 1.5 percent strategic infrastructure allowance.
- Officials say the €13.5 billion scheme could create over 100,000 jobs and accelerate economic growth in Sicily and Calabria.
- Environmental groups have filed EU complaints over seismic and habitat risks, and the project will follow anti-mafia protocols used at Expo 2015 and the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.