World's Longest Suspension Bridge to Be Built Over Earthquake Fault Line

Construction of what would be the world's longest suspension bridge is scheduled to begin this year, according to the Italian government.

The bridge between the island of Sicily and the Italian mainland would cross over the Strait of Messina, a distance of 3,300 meters, though the construction has to grapple with tectonic activity that could cause earthquakes.

Why It Matters

The idea of connecting Sicily to the Italian mainland is not a new one. Roman empires, King Charlemagne, and successive modern Italian governments have all attempted to get beyond the planning phase, but cost, time, and the challenges of building in an earthquake-prone area have meant each try has been dismissed before shovels break ground.

What To Know

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government is the latest to revive the concept, with Meloni's Minister of Infrastructure Matteo Salvini, being the driving force behind finally starting work on the Strait of Messina Bridge.

The bridge's design would not spare any expense, carrying both trains and vehicles across the two mile distance between Torre Faro in Sicily and Villa San Giovanni on the mainland.

Latest estimates for the project predict that the cost would be around €13.5 billion, the equivalent of $15.3 billion. A small part of that is being funded by the European Union, but their €25 million contribution only partially covers half the design costs.

At the beginning of April this year, constructors Webuild hoped that work would be ready to begin at the end of the year.

At just over two miles, if fully completed, the Strait of Messina Bridge would become the largest suspension bridge in the world, beating out the Canakkale Bridge in Turkey, which is 6,667 feet long.

Ref: World's Longest Suspension Bridge to Be Built Over Earthquake Fault Line