Italy's crazy plan to build a bridge to Sicily

Italy's crazy plan to build a bridge to Sicily

Italy is planning one of the largest construction projects in history. Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, is to be connected to the Italian mainland and thus also to continental Europe by a suspension bridge.

The bridge would be the longest suspension bridge in the world and would far surpass the Canakkale Bridge in Istanbul, which connects Europe with Asia.

Why has the project always failed so far, why could it really work this time and what impact would this bridge have? We look at all these questions in today's video! Enjoy!

[francescolipari]

As a Sicilian (from Palermo) I am really doubtful that it will become true soon

[elpepelucho]

I once took a train from Sicily to Milan. During the crossing, they split up the train and put the whole thing on a barge to cross then reassemble the train on the other side. I was talking to my friend in our cabin about how inefficient it is and wondered why don't they build a bridge, and this Sicilian guy who was in our cabin listening to our conversation replied, because the Mafia runs the barges so they will never let it happen, they bribe the politicians to not build a bridge. And that is the truth. Cosa Nostra !

[arilrasnical]

Every single Italian knows that this bridge has been talked about forever and ever

[tomtom]

Italy's financial situation has never been so difficult as today. If it technically possible and solid I would like to see this bridge and the economic boost it may bring for Sicily and the south of Italy. Hopefully Italy is able to conduct a proper planning and building procedure without Mafia and 'Ndrangheta interference.

[Timuche]

Why don't they consider going under, like the Channel tunnel ?

[meibing]

Talked with one of the largest bridge design companies a couple of weeks ago and they said that engineering and materials were now so far advanced that the bridge is both economically and technically possible.

[ShyGuy]

In canada we have a 12 KM bridge connecting PEI to NB, the fact that there isn't a bridge for just 3 KM in one of the oldest areas in the west is baffling to me.

[donsena]

As a US citizen of third-generation Italian descent, I have always hoped for the best for the land of my four grandparents. If properly engineered, this bridge could make possible daily automotive transport between Sicily and the mainland, enabling Sicilian residents to commute to work in the mainland, thus boosting the local economy . Also, local tourism between the mainland and Sicily would likewise be economically beneficial.

[Christian]

I heard suspension bridge and thought it would be pretty to look at too, and then saw that horrific concept that looks like something from a futuristic simcity game.

[patrik]

Forgot a little detail where Sicily and continental Italy are moving further away from each other, which makes it the perfect hot spot for devastating earthquakes…There is a reason why no company never won a bid

[eliseomacconi]

This bridge in my opinion is vital for south Italy development and mostly for Sicily that could became the gateway to Europe for all eastern commerce

[alessandrobais]

As an Italian I can guarantee you that this bridge is never gonna happen. We've heard about this since the 70s, there are tons of projects used only for political propaganda. Even if it becomes a real thing there will be a lot of problems with ecologists, fishermen, tourism workers just like we have in the TAV project. And i'm not even considering the possible e plausible involvement of mafia organizations, which are still very strong in those territories.
Everybody in Italy knows that's a bad idea, even politicians, but sometimes they forget just to maje empty promises.

[Ostsol]

What immediately came to my mind is Canada's Confederation Bridge, which spans a much longer gap and it has to withstand seasonal ice flows. No earthquakes, though, and those present quite a different engineering challenge.

[joe]

You need four times the money to build it:
First part to mafia
second part to Mafia
Third part to Mafia
Fourth part to bridge, maybe.

[JordanKeats]

Just subscribed, like the videos! Keep going, and you'll do great!

[gekfurian]

As an Italian I can bet everything I own that this bridge will never be.

[burakcolak]

Çanakkale 1915 Martyrs Bridge is the largest bridge and connects Asia and Europe, true.

It's pronounced as "Ch" as in English word "Champion".

It is in Çanakkale, not in Istanbul. Over Dardanelles Strait.

[mattbosley]

Hopefully they'll build it for road and rail like the Oresund bridge, assuming it's completed.

[henrytang]

My Sicilian friend told me that many great projects are possible in Itally, but they become unviable if the Mafia siphons off too much money. Apparently, there is a road that has been under construction for 50 years.

[theatisgr]

The Rion-Antirrion bridge in Greece is 2.2 km long and has been in use since 2004. It is a cable-stayed bridge and its cost back then was about 700 mln. Euros. The know-how needed was beyond the capacities of Greek construction companies, so a French-German consortium undertook the project. Nowadays, users complain about the tall (13.70 euros for cars), but stingy people who don't value their time may still use the ferries, which cost about the half.