3660 meters long, a suspended span of 3,300 metres, 400 meter high pylons, an expected construction cost of 13.5 billion, an impact on GDP of 23 billion. Are the Bridge numbers indicated by Matteo Salvini as the eighth wonder of the world, even if today the Minister almost avoids talking about it, having perhaps understood that, before the European Championships on 9 June, there will be no ribbon to cut.
The goal of starting work before the summer is, in fact, now a mirage, which makes all those who see this moment as a nightmare breathe a sigh of relief. The nightmare that the balance of the territory will be upset by the preliminary works of awork that will not be done.
It will not be done because – despite thousands of declarations to the contrary – until now there are no materials suitable for the structure that is intended to be built.
If the promise to build the Bridge, and do it with a bang, was just an electoral promise, having reopened the now closed file and given new life to the Strait of Messina Society is much more. It is a scam to the detriment of citizens, the opening of one chasm into which taxpayers’ money is already running out.
The proof that it is a scam lies in the approximation and superficiality that come to the surface as the documents of the (so-called) definitive project are examined and contested, with heavy judgments, sometimes unappealable, not only from those who are against the realization of the project operates, but also by those who are in favor.
The numbers prove it, the “other” numbers on the bridge.
The members of the Scientific Technical Committee of the Stretto Messina Society began, nine experts appointed by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, in agreement with the Calabria Region and the Sicilian Region, to carry out technical consultancy tasks. Technicians, therefore, chosen by those who want the Bridge very badly.
These are 7 engineers, an architect, a geologist, who on 29 January 2024 delivered a 53 page document in which they expressed a positive opinion on the defined project, “without prejudice to” various and detailed “considerations, observations”, summarized in 68 final recommendationsthe. To be taken into account when drafting the executive project.
The second act was the “preliminary services conference”, convened on 16 April last, to acquire the “initial observations from the participating bodies and administrations”, the Stretto di Messina company, all the municipalities in the area, the Port Authority and other interested bodies. (government website).
Result, 239 document additions requested by the Technical Commission for Environmental Impact Verification, appointed by Ministry of the Environment. Among the additions requested are also those (66) which concern the assessment of impact on Natura 2000 sites, established by the European Union for the protection and conservation of natural habitats.
But what the technicians notice is missing is much more. There is a lack of analyzes relating to the effects of noise pollution, vibrations, electromagnetic fields, adequate studies on the geological structure and waste disposal, as well as on the relationship between construction sites and roads and on the impacts of the excavation of tunnels and other underground works. An integration of the cost-benefit analysis and the social and economic context was also requested.
Stefano Lenzi of the WWF talks about a fiery phone call between Ciucci, CEO of the Strait of Messina, and Matteo Salvini, who was unable to gag the technicians of his colleague, Minister of the Environment.
Then it started there too Sicilian Civil Protection who expressed doubts because the risk analysis does not take into account the possibility of exceptional events (meteorological, seismic, fire, etc.), which could occur during the works. And for which “an assessment of the damage scenario is needed […] the rescue system and the emergency plan”. Only two pages, but not long.
It was also feltOrder of Engineers of Messina, always in favor of the Bridge, who asked the General Contractor (the Eurolink Consortium) for an updated study on the territory, with “survey activities and execution of topographical, geological, geognostic and monitoring investigations”. The Order goes so far as to offer its technical contribution on the checks necessary to update the project, checks that do not exist. Which is why, “in light of the current anti-seismic legislation, to date the definitive project has not been updated”. In everything they advance 25 observations which correspond to precise technical requests, to ensure that the works are carried out “adopting the most stringent safety coefficients to protect the community and with the utmost attention to private and public safety”.
So far, friendly fire.
Then there are 534 pages of observations officially presented by associations and committees, from the WWF to Legambiente, from Italia Nostra to Lipu, from Instead of the Ponte to No Ponte CapoPeloro, and others. But also observations made by political parties, municipal administrations, law firms and individual citizens. Documents that can be found on the official government website.
The activism of the associations does not stop. Last A press conference was held on April 20 during which topics were touched upon that do not always have due importance, such as that of protection of archaeological heritagenot only those already known but also those that could emerge during the work, an extremely delicate topic because any discovery would entail the risk of blocking the work.
And then the water problem which will be necessary for the works. There are 17 construction sites planned for just one of them, that of anchoring, we are talking about a consumption of 39 million cubic meters of water. What will happen in a city where water is rationed due to previous unresolved critical issues? Why has the water request in the 2011 project not been updated?
The water issue also involves the interference of the main construction site with the Ganzirri lakes and their biodiversity-rich waters. and the contradiction between two project documents, one which excludes the Margi canal from being touched and the other which provides for its deviation. How do we put it? Boh… Once again approximation and superficiality.
Speaking of water, the alarm raised during the press conference of the associations is joined by that of the mayor Basile, who recalled how the aquifer from which the city draws for its supply is fed by the melting of the snow of Etna, which have been very few in recent years. On the other hand, the fact that the issue of drought is serious in Sicily is demonstrated by the request for a state of emergency by President Schifani.
Also Minister Salvini’s statements on a probable European funding they turn out to be similar to hoaxes. The coordinator of the Mediterranean-Scandinavian Corridor declared to Ansa that for now it is only possible to talk about 50% co-financing of the preparatory studies and only, possibly, for the railway part. Precisely the most problematic one.
And then, are we sure that Europe looks favorably on a work for which the Italian government has re-entrusted the project to the general contractor without a new public tender, as required by Union rules? A work that puts at risk 12 sites of the Natura 2000 network, which Europe itself protects, pursuant to the Habitats and Birds Directives?
Returning to the work of the associations, the mapping of homes which could suffer damage following the planned works, including those relating to the railway tunnel which should pass under the city of Messina.
“Those who risk losing their home/land are called expropriando – write No Ponte Capo Peloro on their Facebook page – those who live near the construction sites are called frontists. And what are those who risk minor or structural damage to their homes due to work on the railway tunnel under the city called?
We could call them “subsidents” – they answer – as their houses risk being damaged due to “subsidence” or the sinking of the land due to the excavation of tunnels.
And they continue by indicating the number of buildings, area by area, the intensity of damage they would suffer, with information taken from the documents of the definitive project of the bridge, available for viewing on the website of the Ministry of the Environment, in the tables with the acronyms SS0277-F0 and SF0133-F0.
