The green light has been given for a bridge to Sicily. A railway line is also planned.

This could be a breakthrough decision for Sicily's economy. On Wednesday, Italy's CIPESS (Committee for Economic Planning and Sustainable Development) approved the final design for the bridge over the Strait of Messina, thus giving its "yes" to the construction of a bridge connecting Sicily with mainland Italy.

The bridge to Sicily. The light is green.

Construction could begin once the permit is officially granted, likely in a few months. According to the Italian government, the bridge could be completed by 2032.

“It will be the longest single-span bridge in the world” and will act as a “development accelerator” for the poor regions on both sides, namely the islands of Sicily and Calabria, said Matteo Salvini, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport in Giorgia Meloni’s government, at a press conference.

This is what the project looks like

The design includes two central railway tracks and two carriageways with three lanes each, with a span of 3.3 kilometers. The bridge will span two 400-meter-high towers.

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Reuters reports that the project has been discussed since the late 1960s. Concerns about earthquake risk, environmental threats, and mafia infiltration have surrounded it. Proponents believe the bridge will boost the economy of southern Italy.

The construction tender was won by the Eurolink consortium, led by WeBuild. According to the consortium, suspension bridges are the safest structures from a seismic risk perspective, as they are inherently less susceptible to earthquakes.

Some civic groups opposing the bridge say it is unnecessary, and environmental associations filed a complaint with the European Union this week, citing a "serious threat to the local environment."

Read also: Bridge to a beautiful European island. Construction is getting closer. Read also: Bridge to Sicily will be built after all. It was rumored that the mafia blocked the construction for years.