Messina Bridge passes milestone

Financing is being put in place for the new bridge planned for the Strait of Messina to link the Italian mainland with the island of Sicily.

Stretto di Messina, the Italian company managing the project, has given its approval to €900 million of financing for bridge construction work. This includes 683 million from 1184 ANAS and €117 million from 1185 Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI), 1187 Ferrovie dello Stato's (FS) rail infrastructure company, which controls a 13% stake in Stretto di Messina. The local authorities in Sicily control a stake of 2.6% in Stretto di Messina and are contributing €23 million, although this may be raised to 100 million if required.

Meanwhile the new highway linking Catania with Siracusa in Sicily has required an overall investment of €723 million. Works were tendered out by ANAS in 2005 and the construction was completed in record time in 2009. The first 11km stretch opened in mid-2009 while the remaining 14km segment has just opened. The highway extends the Messina-Catania road and features eight tunnels along its length.