CEO Ciucci: “This is a vital step forward. The tight schedule for approval of the final design is set to begin, with the aim of starting up construction in summer 2024, in line with Minister Salvini’s recommendations. Stretto di Messina, which was relaunched just 100 days ago, is now equipped with a technical, financial and legal organisational structure that is up to the task of delivering on the business plan.”

Rome, 30 September 2023. The General Contractor Eurolink has delivered the documentation for the revised final design of the bridge and the road and rail links to Stretto di Messina on schedule.

The designers’ report sets out in detail the design modifications and updates, which will be developed in the detailed design to take into account the new technical regulations for construction and the consequent changes in geological modelling and geotechnical characterisation, the necessary adjustments to safety regulations and technical design manuals, environmental requirements, and technological developments in construction materials and construction techniques. It is also planned to revise the following environmental documents: the Environmental Impact Assessment, the Environmental Impact Study and the Landscape Report.

“This is a vital step forward,” commented Stretto di Messina’s CEO, Pietro Ciucci, “within the tight schedule that will allow us to achieve the goal of starting up construction sites in summer 2024, in line with the recommendations made by the Minister of Infrastructure, Matteo Salvini. Stretto di Messina, which was relaunched just 100 days ago, is now equipped with a technical, financial and legal organisational structure that is capable of delivering on the demanding business plan. These activities include, among others, ongoing reviews for the traffic study, the cost-benefit analysis, the business plan, setting out investment and operating costs, and the sustainability report. In accordance with the law, we are preparing the revised version of the Concession and Planning Agreement in order to define the timeframe for implementation of the project.”

“Moreover,” explained Mr. Ciucci, “technical working groups have been set up with the representatives of the municipalities affected by the project, with the aim of maintaining constant dialogue with the cities concerned and enabling local authorities to implement their planned strategic choices. These meetings are vitally important, as the bridge is a local project that will bring extraordinary benefits to the local area. In this context, offices will soon be opened in Villa San Giovanni and Messina to ensure a continuous flow of information to and from the authorities and citizens”.  

Delivery of the designers’ report will mark the start of the process of approving the final design. Stretto di Messina will immediately start a technical and economic preliminary study together with the Project Management Consultant, the Parson Transportation Group, and at the same time seek the opinion of the Scientific Committee. This process, which is expected to last a month, will be completed with approval by the Board of Directors of Stretto di Messina. Subsequently, the Company will submit the final design and the revised designers’ report to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, which will convene a Services Conference to be attended by the national government authorities and local bodies involved in construction of the project. The documentation, including the environmental documents, will be simultaneously forwarded to the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security for the various environmental consents.