Beyond the Strait of Messina Bridge: All Complementary Works in Southern Italy

The 3 kilometers of sea that the Messina Strait Bridge will span, connecting Sicily to Calabria, are only a portion of this massive Italian project that promises to reshape national and European mobility, extending the benefits of the continental Trans-European Transport Network from Scandinavia all the way to Palermo.

The true scope of the project goes far beyond the 3,300-meter suspended span (which will make the Strait of Messina Bridge the longest suspension bridge in the world). Indeed, plans call for the construction of an integrated system of over 40 kilometers of new roads, railways, tunnels, viaducts, railway stations.

In addition, a management center will be developed to redefine mobility and accessibility throughout the Strait of Messina area, transforming it into a strategic hub of the Scandinavian–Mediterranean Corridor of the TEN-T.

One of the most significant components of the Messina Strait Bridge project is the construction of a railway network and new railway stations in Messina (Papardo, Annunziata, and Europa), designed to connect the bridge with the city center, the university, and major hospitals.

The railway network will revolutionize access to the city for residents, commuters, and tourists alike, reducing private traffic and encouraging sustainable mobility.

Additionally, the project includes a series of integrated developments on the Sicilian side: 10.4 km of roads and 17.5 km of railways, with more than 90% of the route running through tunnels. The new roads will link the bridge to the A18 and A20 motorways, crossing Messina’s urban fabric through tunnels such as Faro Superiore, Balena, and Le Fosse.

The rail component includes the construction of an almost entirely underground route, with two large tunnels over 15 kilometers long (Sant’Agata and Santa Cecilia), each with twin single-track tubes, equipped with safety bypasses every 500 meters and six ventilation shafts.

These works will complete the integration of the island with the high-capacity railway network of the mainland, reducing travel times and increasing the reliability of connections.

As in Sicily, the Strait of Messina Bridge also promises to transform Calabria’s infrastructure through a series of complementary works. The most important are the new road connections, with approximately 9.9 kilometers of routes planned, 41% of which will run through tunnels.

These road links will connect the bridge to the A2 motorway — the main Tyrrhenian artery of the South of Italy — via a complex network of ramps, some of which will be built as natural tunnels, while others will be viaducts, trenches, and embankments.

Additionally, the construction of a 2.7-kilometer railway line is planned to connect both the historic Tyrrhenian line and the future Salerno–Reggio Calabria high-speed rail line. Of this route, a full 84% will run through tunnels, minimizing the visual and environmental impact of the work.

The total estimated value of the complementary works in Southern Italy included in the Messina Strait Bridge project exceeds €5 billion, with 75% of the investment allocated to Sicily. These are essential investments to ensure accessibility, safety, and modal continuity along one of the most important logistical corridors for the future of the Mezzogiorno and the entire country.

Not just roads and railways, but a truly integrated mobility system — one that will be developed with a strong focus on sustainable transportation.

Excavation materials generated during construction (11.9 million m³ in Sicily and 4.6 million in Calabria) will be reused for building road embankments, coastal replenishment, and environmental recovery projects. This circular approach aims to reduce the environmental impact of the construction site while enhancing local resources.

Overall, this integrated infrastructure system is essential to give strength and meaning to the Strait of Messina Bridge itself — connecting one of the most ambitious projects in the world with a dense and efficient mobility network that can truly turn this multimodal system into Sicily’s gateway to Europe.