Strait of Messina bridge: Italy’s ambitious plan for the world’s longest suspension bridge

A new bridge connecting the city of Messina, in Sicily, to mainland Italy is set to become the world's longest suspension bridge. The project, estimated to cost £11.5billion, has received the green light and is expected to be finished by 2032-2033. Currently, the world's longest bridge is the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, spanning 34 miles.

The Strait of Messina Bridge will stretch to a total length of 3,666 meters (2.2 miles) and is designed to accommodate six lanes of traffic and two railway tracks. It will have a maximum capacity of 200 trains a day and 6,000 vehicles an hour.

The Strait of Messina Bridge sits at the point where the African and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, making seismic planning vital. The project plans state that from a seismic viewpoint, the bridge can withstand an earthquake of 7.1 on the Richter scale.

In 1908, Europe's most powerful earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.5 on the Richter scale, struck southern Italy, centered in the Messina Strait. Moments after the earthquake, a devastating tsunami formed, causing 40-foot waves.

Motorists will be required to pay a toll to cross the bridge. The cost of a single crossing in a motor vehicle will be between €4 and €7 (£3-£6) per trip. The project’s website explained that the above rates will ensure that the cost of the project will be covered over the period of the concession term, as well as the related operating costs and routine and non-routine maintenance expenses. At the same time, the bridge will provide seamless travel between Sicily and Calabria with tolls far lower than the current cost of crossing the Strait.