The construction timeline for the bridge over the Messina Strait may face a four-month delay, as requested by the Stretto Messina Company itself, in agreement with the General Contractor Eurolink, which is tasked with designing and constructing the bridge. If the request is granted, the deadline for submitting the additional required documentation will be postponed to mid-September 2024.
On the afternoon of May 9, 2024, Pietro Ciucci, CEO of Stretto Messina, stated that "the decision is motivated by the exceptional significance of the project and reflects the company's commitment to providing timely and comprehensive responses to the requests for supplements and clarifications on the technical documents of the final bridge project over the Messina Strait, submitted by the Via and Vas Commission of Mase (Ministry of Environment)." The further examinations include field investigations, such as additional terrestrial faunal, bathymetric, and underwater surveys, to which the company intends to dedicate maximum attention by fully utilizing the time allowed by the regulations.
The request stems from 68 remarks highlighted by the Scientific Committee chosen by the ministry to assess the project's feasibility, which dates back to 2011. One particular point concerns the railway segment on the bridge: "In the final project, the interaction analyses are based on simplified assumptions and distinct models for different types of actions. It is deemed necessary, during the drafting of the executive project, to conduct an interaction analysis on a complete model of the bridge," the Committee notes.
