Rome, 15 October 2024. “Once again, the comments by environmental associations and committees opposed to the Strait of Messina Bridge that have appeared in the media are generic, unsubstantiated and undocumented,” says Stretto di Messina CEO, Pietro Ciucci. The documentation prepared by Stretto di Messina, in response to the Ministry of the Environment’s (MASE) request for additions to the bridge’s final design, is – contrary to claims made – the outcome of exhaustive efforts made by a multidisciplinary design group comprising leading companies, professionals and university professors, at national and international level. The environment, public health and respect for biodiversity are priority issues at the heart of our project. So, claiming that the bridge is an ‘ideological, politically motivated project, regardless of its usefulness and feasibility’ shows a lack of respect for Parliament and the government, which have confirmed the bridge’s strategic value by allocating substantial funding for its construction”. Replies to the main comments are set out below.  

IMPACT ON BIRDLIFE: DATA COLLECTED BY EXPERIENCED ORNITHOLOGISTS

Data on the volume of migration in the Strait were updated by experienced ornithologists via a new monitoring campaign using horizontally and vertically scanning radar. The claim regarding “poorly positioned radar” is not credible. The flight altitudes referred to sea level and measured with vertical radar showed that the average altitude of daytime flights was approximately 750 metres, while the average altitude of nighttime flights was approximately 890 metres, and therefore well above the structures forming the bridge.

THE BRIDGE DOES NOT LIE ON ACTIVE FAULTS

All the faults in the Strait of Messina area have been identified, surveyed and monitored, including those on the Calabrian side. Based on the geo-seismotectonic studies carried out, the points of contact with the project’s footprint, were identified taking care to avoid any positioning on active faults.

COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS: €3.9 BILLION ECONOMIC NET PRESENT VALUE AND 4.51% RATE OF RETURN

The cost-benefit analysis, carried out in accordance with European and national guidelines, has shown that building the bridge over the Strait of Messina can make a substantial contribution to the enhancement of collective wellbeing, by bringing significant net benefits to the national community, and improving both economic and environmental aspects. Key summary indicators show an economic net present value (EVA) of €3.9 billion (as of 2023) and an economic internal rate of return (IRR) of 4.51%, compared with investment expenditure of €13.5 billion. Overall, taking into account modal shifts towards rail, a reduction of approximately 12.8 million tonnes of C02 is estimated over the 2024-2063 timeframe.

TRAFFIC: BACK IN THE DAY, IT WAS EVEN CLAIMED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO TRAFFIC FOR THE AUTOSTRADA DEL SOLE 

Back in the day, it was even claimed that there would be no traffic for the Autostrada del Sole. On the contrary, studies carried out on the Strait of Messina Bridge have shown that recent total traffic between Sicily and the rest of Italy, from 2011 to 2022, has registered growth of 20.3% for passengers and 24.2% for goods, despite the economic crisis of 2010/12 and the effects of Covid 19. The bridge will lead to an increase in crossings from the current 2.7 million total vehicles per year to over 4 million total vehicles per year.

CUMULATIVE EFFECT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT

The concept of cumulative effects and the related consideration of mitigation to reduce specific and cumulative impacts feature prominently in the analysis, verification and mitigation actions of complex spatial and environmental solutions, including the following examples:

– analysis of the Ganzirri basins was focused on consideration of hydrogeological, salinity, tidal influence and ecosystem aspects, including specific current measurements to assess the interchange between the two bodies of water;

– coastal nourishments were evaluated and selected, applying a synergistic approach to coastal hydrodynamics, lithological factors and marine ecosystem aspects;

– hydraulic interventions were first analysed and checked using a 2D model, and then designed in terms of hydrology, surface network hydraulics, platform hydraulics and also water sustainability;

– the impact and mitigation solutions regarding the light disturbance caused by the bridge and construction sites were assessed and developed via a synergistic approach, taking into account aspects of marine ecosystems and marine fauna, as well as interference with migrating birds and disturbance of nesting birds;

– many of the compensatory measures involve natural and landscape features.

Obviously, in line with good practice and regulations, the numerical and predictive acoustic and atmospheric simulations were also set up and carried out, by including and evaluating the cumulative contribution of the various sources of pollution present within the areas under assessment. The simulation and diffusion models adopted for analysis of the various impacts, together with the pollutant concentration data collected and retrieved by authorities to calibrate the models, took the cumulative effect into account.

THE “ZERO OPTION” ALREADY ASSESSED AND ELIMINATED VIA COMPARATIVE STUDIES 

The “zero option” was assessed during the preliminary design phase. This assessment involved comparing the two systems for crossing the Strait – bridge and maritime link – with a view to achieving sustainable development goals, as well as territorial integration and development. The bridge solution was found to be infinitely preferable to the enhanced ferry solution, especially in achieving these key results: a marked reduction in exhaust emissions; a significant reduction in crossing times, which for rail traffic are reduced on average by more than 2 hours, and for road traffic by around 1 hour; a significant reduction in congestion in urban areas; a greater degree of socio-economic integration of the Strait’s urban areas; and positive effects on the economy and employment.

PUBLIC HEALTH: IT IS NOT TRUE THAT AN IN-DEPTH STUDY IS LACKING

The public health report produced analyses the public health risk factors associated with construction of the bridge, with reference to specific investigations carried out in the context of the other components (atmosphere, noise, vibration, water) deemed to be sources of public health pollution. The report assesses the current environmental status in the area of intervention and correlates the causes of potential risk to public health with the planned works, with regard to both the construction and operational phases. The report then sets out a provisional assessment of the environmental status regarding public health, concluding that adoption of the mitigation measures included in the design fulfils the task of guaranteeing maintenance of an adequate level of protection for public health. This is in part also thanks to the Environmental Monitoring Project and the Environmental Management System for the construction sites, which serve as effective risk awareness and prevention tools.

CONSTRUCTION SITES: VERY STRICT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION CRITERIA HAVE BEEN ADOPTED

In full compliance with current legislation, environmental planning of the construction sites includes very strict environmental protection criteria related to potential impacts emerging for the construction phase from the strategic impact assessment (SIA) process. The mitigation measures and site operational procedures to be adopted cover various areas, including: management of excavated material; noise and vibration impact forecasts for operating sites and tunnel excavation; changes in air quality in the lower layers of the atmosphere; waste management; protection of water resources and soil; management of water use for working purposes; light impact; management of accidental events that could potentially contaminate the area; and integration of sites within local areas. Stretto di Messina believes that the mitigation measures envisaged will largely attenuate/eliminate the potential environmental pollution generated by construction of the bridge.
Before the opening of the construction sites (ante operam phase), during construction of the bridge and following construction (post operam phase), the Environmental Monitoring Project will be implemented. This will cover the construction site areas directly affected by the project, and the so-called “extended area”, which goes beyond the area strictly affected by the works.
Monitoring of the environmental components “in progress” will enable identification of any changes and prompt intervention if anomalies occur during the construction phase. The environmental components monitored will regard, among other things, the physical state of the sites and site roads, the atmosphere, noise and vibration, water, soil and subsoil.
It should be noted that the monitoring data will be shared with the control bodies via a dedicated IT platform.
Finally, provision of Environmental Management Plans for construction sites will enable definition of construction site organisation, thereby guaranteeing constant control of the environmental aspects of the construction site, partly through interaction with the Monitoring Plan.

WATER ISSUES AT CONSTRUCTION SITES: TIMING OF THE PLANNED WATER SUPPLY WORKS IS COMPLETELY CONSISTENT WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASES

During the supply of water to the Strait of Messina Bridge construction sites, water supplies to the cities of Messina and Villa San Giovanni will be completely unaffected. In the current phase of revising the final design, the designers evaluated a specific water sustainability plan for the construction sites. As an additional measure, and also in order to follow the timeframe of the construction site, the construction of new well fields was identified as the optimal solution. It should be noted that the supply amounts are greater than the construction sites’ requirements. The resulting surplus will be fed into the network during execution of the project, thereby making this additional supply available to local municipalities. The planning, approval and implementation timeframes for the planned works to supply water to the Strait of Messina Bridge construction sites are completely consistent with the construction phases and would not lead to any overshoots.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY IDENTIFIES COMPLEX FRAMEWORK OF SPECIFIC COMPENSATORY MEASURES

In 2013, the Technical Committee for Environmental Impact Assessment (TCEIA) did not express an unfavourable opinion on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), but, as a result of its investigation, did highlight the presence of a negative impact on certain Natura 2000 Network sites. In this regard, it should be noted that, as part of the final design, the Environmental Impact Study has been subjected to a complete and thorough review and integration that takes into account the most up-to-date analysis and development criteria, methods and procedures. This study takes into account the TCEIA’s previous preliminary assessments and, subsequent to the investigations carried out and the adoption of mitigation measures, identifies a complex framework of specific compensatory measures to address the remaining significant negative impacts, in line with the provisions of art. 6 of Directive 92/43/EEC.