I have read that there have been thoughts of building the Messina bridge which if constructed would connect Sicilia with the mainland. Are southern Italians generally in favor of this project or against it? Would it be a waste of money or could it stimulate the economy? The thoughts of anyone who lives in Italy would be appreciated but in particular I was wondering what you thought Zidanie since you probably live the closest to Calabria of anybody here on the forum. (I am assuming that the bridge would connect Calabria and Sicilia.) Is there any talk about this topic in Naples?

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Dimmi con chi vai e ti dirò chi sei.

This is a good question and as I live in Calabria I thought I would like to try to answer it...

The bridge has been scheduled to start in December / January and I believe it to be a good thing for the region of Southern Italy. There has been much controversy on whether this is a good or bad project and if the region / people want to accept it.

Without going into huge depth I will summarise what I believe to be the positive and negative points:

Positive points:
- Will put the Sicily and Calabria region firmly on the map
- Trade for southern Italy will increase
- Infrastructure including the A3 will need to be improved quickly and is being done at the moment
- Tourism will begin to flow more freely between the two regions (7million people visit Italy every year, the south will become more accessible)
- A European landmark to drive tourism to these areas (the biggest bridge of its kind in the world!)

Negative:
- Environmental, but this specific area is not protected
- The local people are very set in there ways, saying this they dont mind progress however if they feel the benefit.

I could go on for ages but to Summarise although there has been talk of this for many years if it does go ahead the negative impact would be minimal and the upside would be great for Southern Italy.

Rob,

I tend to agree with you that it would be a good idea but since I am not Italian born nor do I live in Italy I don't really want to say that much. lol

Now, you are saying that the construction will start in December? I guess there is even some debate about that now because the government feels that it doesn't have the resources to get the project started.

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Dimmi con chi vai e ti dirò chi sei.

The starting date is supposed to be December / January but because of the controversy this has to be seen to be believed. The cost of the bridge is estimated at €6.1bn and when there is so many other existing infrastructure and other improvements that need to be done people are wondering why such an expensive and possibly ostentatious project is being placed in front of other these.

Once again the further positives are a long term growth, tourism and trade improvments to these regions and employment to the local workers involved in this, and the negative, can this money be better spent elsewhere (like the Messina flooding which only 2 weeks ago killed 14 people).

Well,

Like anything else it is a risk. The people's money will be used to pay for this massive project and it may or may not stimulate the economy and tourism. Some people may be reluctant to start the project because it could be seen as a waste.

Rob, do the people who live in the area have a right to vote on weather or not the bridge is built? You know like a referendum? I know this concept is popular at election time here in the USA, does it exist in Italy as well?

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Dimmi con chi vai e ti dirò chi sei.

Surely it was a great idea to build an enormous and very expensive bridge in a sismic zone, and with a potential usefulness close to zero. (sarcastic)

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But I have heard that in some areas of the south, unemployment is still rather high. Couldn't the bridge stimulate job production, tourism, and thus the entire economy as a result?

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Dimmi con chi vai e ti dirò chi sei.

Giacomo, mafia would take the projects in a way or the other, and it would only stimulate their economy and their activities.
Unemployment in the south is not high because there is no job to do, but because mafia wins the "appalti", and a great amount of work is done "in nero".
I don't know how to translate those words though, I'll check in a minute.

Hmm no luck. I hope you already know what they mean, or I'll have to try and explain with circumlocutions!

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You're probably right Zidanie. Thanks for clarifying. Would "in nero" mean in the black or in secret? Is "Apalti" like business deals or work? Rob any more thoughts?

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Dimmi con chi vai e ti dirò chi sei.

In nero is when you pay your workers without paying any fiscal contribution for them, no contract signed, not to pay taxes.
Appalto is when they look who offers the best price and best service to build something which has to be built. And mafia usually cheats to get appalti for them.
Couldn't explain it better

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