"The 2.8 billion moved from the Bridge over the Strait should be used for Sicily and Calabria," the attack from the Democratic Party in the Senate.

Two billion and 778 million allocated two years ago for the Bridge over the Strait are currently going to the Railways. These are resources that, according to the initial timeline, were supposed to be spent on the mega project of the Strait between 2026 and 2029. In the same provision, the Meloni government postpones the same amounts for the Bridge: starting from 2030 and until 2034. Then - asks the Democratic Party, which has submitted a parliamentary inquiry - why not use this money for "the needs of Sicily Calabria, among other things recently hit by the devastating Cyclone Harry and the landslide in the Municipality of Niscemi?" The executive has instead allocated the 2.778 billion to Rfi, to reduce the debt burden that the company has accumulated while maintaining the most intense investment cycle in recent decades.

The cost of the Bridge over the Strait remains unchanged: 13.5 billion euros. It was established where to obtain the resources and how to distribute them by the stability law of 2024 (law number 213 of 2023). Today, "the commissioners' decree" enacted by the executive intervenes precisely on that regulation. A reallocation is planned with a reduction of 938 million euros for the year 2026, 718 million euros for 2027, 632 million euros for 2028, 499 million euros for 2029. Total: 2 billion 778 million euros. The same decree redistributes it, still for the Bridge, as follows: 26 million euros for the year 2030, 407 million for 2031, 857 million for 2032, 293 million for 2033 and 1 billion 204 million for 2034.

"There is effectively a significant delay in the timeline for the start of the work compared to what was initially planned by the Minister and the Stretto di Messina Company," write the Democratic senators Antonio Nicita, Nicola Irto, and Vincenza Rando in their inquiry. Already three months ago, when the government had provided for a first reallocation of funds for the Bridge, the PD had requested to use those resources for the needs of Sicily and Calabria. Today they reiterate: "We ask to know from the minister what the reasons are that have prevented the use of the funds made available in the period 2026-2029 for other infrastructural interventions in Sicily, Calabria, and Sardinia, starting with the most urgent ones following the damages recently suffered due to Cyclone Harry." 

The reorganization of the funds for the Bridge arises from hurdles in the bureaucratic process. The government is trying to address the shortcomings highlighted by the Court of Auditors. For example, it is necessary to prepare the update of the economic-financial plan (PEF), obtain the opinion of theTransport Regulatory Authority (ART) on the tariffs, and go through the Higher Council of Public Works. In short, time is needed, and it makes no sense to keep all that money idle. 

Just a few weeks ago, Minister Matteo Salvini emphasized that he does not want to provide any more start dates for the construction sites, after previous dates have consistently slipped. The Democratic Party is also pointing this out, asking "what initiatives he intends to take to avert the risk of inefficiency in the management of public spending, in light of the risks associated with the prolonged timelines for the start of the work and the subsequent increase in costs for its realization compared to what has been previously planned." Furthermore: "The Minister of Infrastructure has always maintained, prior to the approval of the aforementioned decree law, that the start of the work would take place in 2026, rejecting any hypothesis of reallocation of funding; during the Question Time on February 5, 2026, in response to specific questions included in the inquiry, he failed to answer regarding the actual start date of the work. The aforementioned decree law effectively contradicts the statements of the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, confirming the substantial failure of the management of the approval process for the Bridge over the Strait of Messina." 

In reality, a start date for the work is provided by the Strait of Messina: September 2026. This is now the new objective. "The timeline for the construction of the bridge provides for 7.4 years - emphasized the concessionary company - Completion of work in 2033. 2034 is the first year of operation of the bridge. The funds allocated for 2034 are for accounting and financial adjustments post-construction and the payment of the last Sal."