Object of desire, political propaganda, waste of public resources or strategic public work with undoubted environmental connotations? No political representative in 65 years has escaped the suggestion of connecting Sicily to the mainland with the bridge over the Strait of Messina. Unindustria Calabria, Sicindustria, Confindustria Catania and Confindustria Syracuse still believe in it and give a project that would finally do justice to a thousand illusions.
In a dossier full of data and socio-economic assessments, the industrialists retrace the incredible passages of the long and tormented Italian history, a tragicomedy for the South. "I will seriously consider building the bridge over the Strait of Messina”, he said a few days ago Giuseppe Conte. But the premier, and others, Confindustria of Sicily and Calabria are reminded that that illusion has cost to date 960 million euros, involved 300 designers, 100 between companies, organizations and universities. While from Messina to Villa San Giovanni it still takes an hour by ferry today, if all goes well. And the two shores are just 3,3 km away.
The monstre figure, explains the dossier, was calculated by the Court of Auditors. A public facility – Strait of Messina Spa Company - twigs 1981, year of its establishment, to 2013, the year of the liquidation, spent 958.292 million euros. But even its liquidation was loaded on the shoulders of taxpayers with almost two million a year in 2014 and 2015 and 1,5 million for 2016 for expenses and disputes. It seemed finished, but while Conte was still saying he wanted to consider the work, that old Spa "is attached to the artificial respirator of a liquidator who receives an annual fee of 160 thousand euros in addition to the legal costs of a legal dispute with the contractor Eurolink".
An incredible cross-section that has gone through governments of all colors and which, as a strategic public work, has sustainable environmental connotations of undoubted value. From interregional and national mobility to daily journeys, to the reduction of ferry traffic, to the depollution of water. Confindustria says that the bridge can be built in 6 years with a maximum cost of 8,5 billion and an economic yield of around 9%.
Is anyone in Rome ready to overcome uncertainties of any kind, to challenge controversial conceptions of infrastructure useful to the country? If yes, the dossier indicates three points: a plan of certain dates and deadlines that cannot be postponed; a rigorous roadmap with an accountability system for non-fulfilled commitments; an overall spending plan, including public and private funding. Finally, given that the Commissioners have never gone out of fashion, nominate a brand new one "who guarantees flexibility and speed and compliance with deadlines during all the planning and construction phases". In short, since yesterday the premier has one more element to make a definitive and credible decision. After 65 years.
