Strait Bridge, new construction-phase procedure: executive project cancelled

Step-by-step procedure for the Messina Strait Bridge , the highly contested project that, as announced by Il Sole 24 Ore in early May, changes the approval procedures and removes from the calendar, as already planned, the 31 July deadline for approval of the executive project, replacing it with a procedure also involving construction stages.

To make this change effective, the mother law, Decree 35/2023, had to be changed: now the Infrastructure Decree approved by the Council of Ministers on 24 June establishes this new path 'by construction phases'. In essence, for individual realisations that are not necessarily functional. A provision that many have linked to the question of economic coverage and which will allow the construction of the bridge to proceed step by step. Stretto di Messina, the concessionaire of the work, throws water on the fire. "With the approval of the final project by the CIPESS, expected by the end of the year, the construction phase of the bridge will begin with the first anticipated works and with the executive design that can be developed by construction phases in line with international best practices," said the company's CEO Pietro Ciucci . He also denied possible problems with the coverage: "With the approval of the final project, it is required by law that CIPESS ascertains the existence of financial coverage for the entire requirements of the work.

The articles of the decree envisage the possibility for the concessionaire to take over the direction of the works, thus preventing the general contractor itself from wearing a double hat. A provision, well-informed people say, that will allow the company on the Strait to take on this role of controller with respect to the works carried out by the general contractor (the Eurolink consortium with Webuild in the lead). Among the other novelties is the increase in the workforce from 100 to 150 employees.