The decision, made on 6 August 2025, follows the submission of the project’s technical and financial documentation by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, with the Messina Strait Company (SSC) participating in the process.
The approved package includes the updated final project, a programme for associated works and services, outcomes from the Services Conference, and the conclusions of the Environmental Impact Assessment (VIA) conducted by the MASE Technical Commission. The Ministry has confirmed that the full project cost, estimated at approximately 13.5 billion EUR (around 15.5 billion USD), is already covered.
The early stages of construction are expected to begin by the end of 2025. These include site preparation activities such as the setup of construction access roads, base camps, clearance of unexploded ordnance, and relocation of underground utilities.
The executive design phase will proceed in three stages:
- Phase 1 (May 2026): Construction of road and rail links.
- Phase 2 (September 2026): Development of tunnels, road junctions, and three new railway stations.
- Phase 3 (March 2027): Erection of bridge components including towers and the suspended span.
Project completion is currently scheduled for 2032.
