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World’s longest suspension bridge plan stalled as auditors flag procedural risks

*Concept rendering of the Messina Strait Bridge showing the record-length central suspension span. Source: Railway Gazette*

Italy’s long-anticipated Messina Strait Bridge has encountered a significant procedural setback after the national Court of Auditors raised formal objections to the project’s implementation framework. Although the Italian government approved the €13.5 billion (USD 15.6 billion) scheme in August 2025, the court highlighted deficiencies in documentation, procurement sequencing, and potential non-compliance with European Union environmental and contracting rules. These concerns have temporarily stalled progress on what would become the longest suspension bridge ever constructed.

Concept design of the Messina bridge Source: Railway Gazette

The ruling does not cancel the project but introduces uncertainty into its delivery timeline. Government officials have indicated that the preferred path forward is to revise the submission to address the court’s technical and legal concerns, rather than override the decision and risk prolonged litigation. Failure to resolve the objections could trigger a requirement for a new international tender, potentially delaying construction by several years.

The Messina Strait Bridge represents one of the most complex suspension bridge concepts ever proposed. The design incorporates a record-breaking central span of 3,666 m, supporting combined road and rail traffic across a seismically active and meteorologically demanding corridor. The structure is engineered to withstand earthquakes exceeding magnitude 7 and wind speeds approaching 300 km/h, reflecting lessons learned from long-span bridges constructed in high-risk environments worldwide.

Beyond its structural ambition, the bridge is intended to replace ferry-based crossings that currently constrain logistics between Sicily and mainland Italy. Forecasts by the project promoter suggest substantial reductions in travel time and long-term economic gains, although critics argue that regional rail and road networks would require parallel upgrades to fully realise these benefits.

The current challenge facing the project is less technical than procedural. While designers and contractors maintain that the bridge is structurally feasible, uncertainties around cost escalation, financing structure, and regulatory alignment now dominate the risk profile. Revised cost estimates, originally anchored to a 2005 contract framework, may necessitate updated procurement strategies under modern EU rules.

If the outstanding issues are resolved, early-stage works such as geological investigations and land acquisition could proceed ahead of full construction, which remains targeted for completion in the early 2030s. Until then, the Messina Strait Bridge stands as a case study in how megaproject delivery depends as much on governance and compliance as on engineering innovation.

Following a video discussing the latest updates and objections concerning the development of the Messina Strait Bridge.