Protests against bridge: Sicily remains dependent on ferry and aircraft!

Protests against bridge: Sicily remains dependent on ferry and aircraft!

On the way to the controversial bridge connection between the Italian mainland and Sicily, the government under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has taken an important step. A decree was adopted that provides for measures to build a bridge over the Messina. This construction project has been discussed for years, but is repeatedly postponed due to security concerns, especially in an earthquake -prone region near the active volcano Etna. Initiatives from the past, among others from ex-government chief Silvio Berlusconi, failed due to similar concerns and criticism of the financial costs. For the new bridge, around 13.5 billion euros are now being estimated, as

But the plans cause resistance: In a protest in the capital Rome, there were tensions between demonstrators, mainly from the ranks of the Greens and left -wing parties, and the police. Instead, the opponents of the bridge demand more investments in the transport infrastructure in Sicily, and some express the fear that the bridge could be dangerous in such a seismically active area. Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini, a leading member of the Lega, showed solidarity with the security forces after the incidents and insisted that the bridge was an important step towards modernizing Italy. "We don't let Vandalen intimidate," said Salvini. The bridge, which is to be 3,666 meters long and would offer space for 6,000 cars per hour, is said to be completed by the early 2030s. The project also emphasizes that it could reduce the emissions and shorten the travel times, as the Tagesspiegel reports.

With the planned building, up to 100,000 jobs could be created, which Salvini is a significant advantage for the economy of the south and the entire country. The pressure on the government of realizing the bridge is growing, while the public debate about the environmental consequences and the need for this infrastructure remains tense.