ROME – The approval process for the Strait Bridge project dear to Minister Matteo Salvini is still postponed. With an official note, the president of the Stretto di Messina company Pietro Ciucci asks the Ministry of the Environment for a four-month suspension to respond to the over 270 requests for clarification made by the Via-Vas commission on the project delivered by private individuals and approved by the board of directors of the Stretto di Messina Messina. He requests clarification on fundamental things, such as materials, anti-seismic and wind tests, construction plans, waste disposal, and the risk of pollution in the area. “We will respond quickly,” the minister assured. But the 30 days foreseen by the Vis-Vas commission of the Ministry of the Environment are no longer enough. “Some in-depth studies involve field investigations, such as further terrestrial, bathymetric and underwater faunal surveys, to which the Company intends to dedicate the utmost attention, making full use of the time allowed by the legislation”, they say from the Strait of Messina.
The Bridge that doesn’t exist: life on the Strait of Messina in the shadow of the great work (never built)
The haste in the process to build the Bridge imposed by the Meloni government and in particular by the minister Matteo Salvini who aimed to open the construction sites this summer clashes with the reality of a project updated in a few months and over ten years old. Now just having the authorizations for the final project is out of the question before the beginning of next year and for the executive project the timeframe is at least another 90 days. It means that the construction sites will not open before the end of next year. Perhaps. Sdm writes in a note: “The Stretto di Messina company, as part of the ongoing environmental impact assessment procedure, in agreement with the General Contractor Eurolink, has deemed it appropriate to request the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security – MASE , pursuant to current legislation, a 120-day suspension of the deadlines for submitting the requested supplementary documentation which, with the new deadlines, will be delivered by mid-September 2024″.
Bridge over the Strait, the Ministry of the Environment’s stop to the process wanted by Salvini: “Documents lacking, dated and in some cases illegible”
by Alessia Candito, Antonio Fraschilla
April 16, 2024
“The decision – explains the managing director of the Stretto di Messina, Pietro Ciucci – is motivated by the exceptional relevance of the work and reflects the will and maximum commitment of the Company in providing timely and exhaustive responses to requests for additions and clarifications on the technical documents of the definitive project of the bridge over the Strait of Messina, presented by the VIA and SEA Commission of MASE. Some in-depth studies involve field investigations, such as further terrestrial, bathymetric and underwater faunal surveys, to which the Company intends to dedicate the utmost attention, making full use of the time allowed by the legislation”.
