Italy to have world's biggest suspension bridge 

A suspension bridge with a span twice that of Denmark's Great Belt Bridge is to link Sicily with the rest of Italy. A consortium of leading international companies with Danish involvement is bidding to build the bridge.
Tenders have been invited for the construction of the world's biggest suspension bridge, across the Strait of Messina between Sicily and the Italian mainland. With a span of 3.3 km, the bridge will have a span twice that of Denmark's Great Belt Bridge, currently the world's 2nd largest suspension bridge.

COWI has entered into agreement with several of the world's biggest bridge construction companies to form a consortium to bid for the Messina project. The consortium - headed by Impregilo S.p.a., Italy's biggest contracting company - also includes Condotte, CMC and Impresa Grassetto.

The non-Italian members of the consortium are France's Vinci, the world's leading bridge construction group; Sacyr Vallehermoso of Spain, IHI of Japan and Parsons of the US, all considered among the leading suspension bridge construction companies in the world. If the consortium is awarded the contract, COWI will be responsible for the design and technical follow-up and construction.

World-class design

"Our participation in the consortium confirms that COWI is a world leader in the design of large bridges," comments COWI divisional director Anton Petersen.

The bridge will carry road and rail traffic. The successful tender will be made known in spring 2005 and construction will commence almost immediately. The bridge should be completed by 2012. The total cost of the project, including major land works with road and rail connections, is an estimated EUR 5 billion.

Published: 01.07.2004
By: Janne Toft Jensen, jaje@cowi.com and John Jørgensen, jhj@cowi.com