Sicilians March to Stop “World’s Longest Bridge” Project

Sicilians March to Stop “World’s Longest Bridge” Project
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Thousands of people marched in Messina, Sicily, to protest a government plan to build the world’s longest single-span bridge, which would connect the Italian mainland to the island, according to a report from Al Jazeera. The 13.5-billion-euro project has been debated for decades but recently received a major step forward with approval from a government committee.

Protesters and local residents are concerned about the project’s massive scale, its potential for earthquake threats, its environmental effects on migratory birds, and the possibility of mafia involvement. Furthermore, about 500 families would face expropriation of their homes for the bridge’s construction.

The government, however, claims the project would create up to 120,000 jobs annually and stimulate economic growth in southern Italy. It is scheduled to begin full construction in 2026.