With regard to certain statements made during today’s hearings before the Chamber of Deputy’s Environment Committee on the Infrastructure Decree, Stretto di Messina CEO, Pietro Ciucci, pointed out: “Construction of the Strait of Messina Bridge will undoubtedly go ahead, the costs are transparent, and there is no risk of non-completion. The design is completely feasible and has been updated in accordance with the law.”
“In particular,” Mr Ciucci explained, “with the approval of the final design by the Interministerial Committee for Economic Planning and Sustainable Development (CIPESS), the Financial Plan will also be approved. This shows that the project is fully funded, thereby avoiding the risk of non-completion, which in most cases arises from a shortage of funding going forward.
Contrary to the fears expressed, the detailed design, which can be developed together with the construction phases in line with international best practices, is aimed at optimising construction of the project, whilst reducing the time needed and costs.
The bridge comprises a set of works: advanced works, environmental support works, terrestrial links, and more than 40 km of roads and railways that are functional, practicable and useful to the population from the outset.
The bridge, the towers and the anchor blocks will obviously comprise a single project.
The technical feasibility of the project has never been questioned, and the process of replying to observations from the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE), which is in progress, will be completed before the final design is approved by CIPESS, and therefore ahead of the start of work on the detailed design.
Moreover, the draft decree introduces new procedural steps aimed at ensuring oversight by the state, and thereby fulfilling all transparency requirements.
Therefore, the regulations introduced by the Infrastructure Decree do not entail any cost increases with respect to those already set out in legislation that has been in force for some time”.