Car fares for the Strait of Messina Bridge and new subway updates: what you need to know

The Messina Strait Bridge is one of the most discussed and anticipated infrastructure projects in Italy. In addition to representing an important link between Sicily and the mainland, the bridge will radically change the way people get around the region, offering new opportunities for both automobiles and public transportation. One of the key issues, in particular, concerns the toll that cars will have to pay to cross the bridge, while details of the subway system that will complete the integrated mobility system are being finalized.

Let's find out together what the most important new features are and what to expect from this great work.

The final design for the Strait of Messina Bridge has been approved: timescales, costs, and innovations.

The CIPESS (Inter-Ministerial Committee for Economic Planning and Sustainable Development) has approved the final design for the Messina Strait Bridge, a major project submitted by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport with comprehensive and detailed documentation.

Minister Matteo Salvini emphasized the importance of the project, highlighting how the connection will drastically reduce crossing times : from the current 120-180 minutes for trains and freight, it will be reduced to just 15 minutes, a saving of more than two and a half hours. Scheduled for completion in 2032-2033 , the bridge will be a single span and will be the longest of its kind in the world, surpassing the current records held by Turkey, Japan, and China.

According to Salvini, the project represents a fundamental development accelerator for Southern Italy and will be accompanied by a strict system of controls to prevent criminal infiltration, with security protocols comparable to those adopted for the Expo and the Olympics.

On the cost front, the Stretto di Messina company estimates that the base fare for cars will be less than 10 euros , with significant discounts for those who frequently cross the bridge. The final fares will be determined shortly before the bridge opens to traffic, but the current option is significantly more cost-effective than the current crossing costs.

In addition to the bridge, a major redevelopment of the Messina and Reggio Calabria areas is planned, with the construction of a Strait Metro system : a system that will connect students, workers, and tourists daily, with three stops on the Messina side. This integrated project goes beyond the bridge infrastructure alone; it represents a strategic investment to improve mobility and urban development in the two cities involved.