Travelers wishing to reach the island of Sicily from mainland Italy have only one option: to cross the Strait of Messina by boat. Today, the shortest route—a ferry ride from Villa San Giovanni to Messina—takes about 20 minutes.

It’s just one step in a two-mile journey, but the Italian government has given final approval for the construction of the Strait of Messina Bridge, which will become the world’s longest suspension bridge —technically a hair over two miles in length at 10,827 feet—and will connect mainland Italy with Sicily.

But for millennia, generations of travelers have required a boat to cross Messina Strait separating Sicily and the mainland. Historical records indicate the desire to build a bridge connecting the landmasses dates as far back as ancient Rome,

The government says the road and rail link will create jobs and lift the region’s economy, but critics are concerned about the environmental and social impact.

Italy has finally approved a €13.5bn (£12bn) plan to build the world’s longest suspension bridge from the mainland to Sicily – an idea first envisaged by the ancient Romans – despite concerns funds will be siphoned off by the mafia.

A long-delayed and debated span linking the Italian mainland with Sicily cleared a major hurdle Wednesday, allowing work to begin on what would be the world's longest suspension bridge.

The Strait of Messina Bridge would connect Sicily to the rest of Italy over a 2-mile stretch. It's expected to cost 13.5 billion euros ($15.7 billion), which Italy's Presidency of the Council of Ministers says will be completely funded by the public and has already been accounted for in the 2024 and 2025 budget.

Italy's government gave final approval on Wednesday to the construction of what will be the world's longest single-span bridge, linking Sicily to the mainland, despite environmental, financial and other concerns that have delayed it for decades.

A Webuild-led consortium today won the contract to build the long-planned bridge over the Strait of Messina in Italy to provide the first fixed link between Sicily and the mainland.

Italy's long-standing dream to build the world’s longest suspension bridge between the mainland and the island of Sicily has just moved one step closer to becoming reality. On August 6, the Italian government gave its final approval to build the Strait of Messina Bridge (Ponte sullo Stretto di Messina) between Sicily to the southern region of