ACRP highlights the commencement of the Strait of Messina Bridge
27/08/2025
The European Association for Construction Repair, Reinforcement and Protection (ACRP) welcomes the commencement of the Strait of Messina Bridge construction, which is set to become the world’s longest suspension bridge span. With a central span of 3,300 meters, it will surpass the current record held by the Çanakkale Bridge in Turkey.
Approved by Italy’s Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning and Sustainable Development (CIPESS), the project is underway following the signing of an addendum to the contract between the concessionaire Stretto di Messina and the general contractor Eurolink, led by Webuild in collaboration with Sacyr (22.4 %).
The bridge will feature a deck measuring 3,666 meters long and 60 meters wide, comprising three vehicle lanes in each direction, two railway tracks, and two service lanes. It is designed to carry up to 200 trains per day and 6,000 vehicles per hour. The structure will include 399‑meter‑high steel pylons, suspension cables 1.26 meters in diameter and 5,320 meters in length, an anti‑seismic design, resistance to extreme wind, and an intelligent system for monitoring and predictive maintenance.
Complementary infrastructure will also be developed. In Calabria, 10 km of roads, 2.7 km of railway lines, and a multipurpose center in Villa San Giovanni will be constructed. In Sicily, 10.4 km of roads, 17.5 km of railway lines, and three new train stations in Messina (Papardo, Annunziata, Europa), linked to hospitals, the university, and the city center, are planned. The project also includes environmental restoration through reuse of excavated earth to enhance the Tyrrhenian coast.
ACRP recognizes this undertaking as a global benchmark in infrastructure and engineering, consistent with its mission to promote maintenance, safety, and quality in European construction. As part of the Scandinavian‑Mediterranean Corridor of the Trans‑European Transport Network (TEN‑T), the bridge will enhance mobility, economic development, and integration of Southern Italy into Europe’s logistic network.
Source: Obras Urbanas
