From 4,6 billion euros in 2003 to the current 8,5 billion: it is the minister for territorial cohesion, Fabrizio Barca, who explains how and why the estimates on the cost of the bridge over the Strait of Messina have almost doubled in 9 years. In 2003 – recalls the minister in response to a question presented to the Chamber – the cost of building the bridge was estimated at 4,6 billion, including the activities of the general contractor, the activities of the project management consultant and the environmental monitoring activities. But taking into account inflation and financial charges during the construction period, the overall requirement had already been estimated at 6,1 billion.
Then there was the suspension in the two-year period 2006-2008 following a resolution approved in the Chamber. And when the Stretto di Messina company was again invited to resume the construction of the work, it became necessary to update the plan and the various contracts (including the capital increase of the Stretto di Messina company) and the introduction of variations and new works: a railway variation, three underground railway stops, the movement of the motorway link, the new office area. In short, the new economic framework of the intervention as a whole – updated by the Stretto di Messina company in July 2011 – estimates the cost of the investment at 8,5 billion, including financial charges.
As for the implementation, it should be noted that the environmental impact assessment procedure is still in progress. In any case, Barca still recalls, the work was given priority status by the government which took office in May 2008 and steps were taken subsequently to the adjustment of the concession relationship.
