The Messina Bridge will be “the largest public works job on the European continent and the largest at the turn of the century. The dream of millions of Italians”. That’s the word of Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini, who is fighting feverishly to certify the success of laying the first stone of the bridge that should connect Sicily to the trunk.
However, it is too bad that Italian opera can see Chinese participation. Pei Minshan, deputy general manager, a civil engineer specializing in bridges, said that China’s state-owned China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) is “absolutely very interested” in the construction of the 10 billion-euro bridge over the Strait of Messina. Interview with Il Sole 24 Ore. The Chinese giant has consolidated experience in building key infrastructures. The CCCC, born from the merger of China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC) and China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), is responsible for the construction of the 54.7km over sea bridge that should connect Hong Kong with Macau.
However, Salvini wants to fix the record. The government led by Giorgia Meloni, which took over the old single-span bridge project that was blocked by the Monti government in 2012, would receive statements of interest from foreign companies. And among them will be the Chinese. Even the Northern League leader admits to receiving requests from companies in China. Salvini commented, “Chinese companies in the construction of the Messina Bridge? There is already a consortium that won the European contract, and I don’t see the possibility of others being involved,” commented, in an attempt to redirect the discussion on the asset. Italian companies in bridge construction. Our goal is to have a large Italian infrastructure built by Italians,” he said.
Therefore, an Italian consortium could play a giant role in the ambitious project. The same winner of the old European tender: Eurolink, led by Impregilo (today Webuild), which won the tender in 2005 and then failed. What has changed, however, is the cost of infrastructure. Although the project belongs to 2012, the work costs have increased by 50% and more than doubled compared to the Cipe decision, which attributed the “national importance” to the Messina bridge. It increased from the first 4.9 billion euros allocated in 2001 to 6.3 in 2011. Currently, estimates for the construction of the project reach 10 billion. However, Salvini assures that the intention is to start work in the summer of 2024.
The infrastructure, however, attracts various criticisms and controversies. Those who oppose the construction of the bridge oppose the high costs, arguing that the money could be used to build rail infrastructure in Calabria and Sicily.
Source: Today IT
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
