(Adnkronos) – The planned 3.7 kilometre suspension bridge connecting Sicily to Italy’s mainland via the Strait of Messina is “a major infrastructure project that must go ahead,” foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on Wednesday after prosecutors opened an corruption investigation into a retired judge and two associates in connection with the scheme.
“I don’t want to interfere in the legal proceedings, Tajani told public Rai Radio Uno’s ‘Ping Pong’ programme.
“The Strait Bridge is a major infrastructure project that must go ahead,” he continued, downplaying the criminal probe.
“Justice must take its course, but let’s not exploit the situation. I don’t think what happened has had a major impact,” Tajani said.
The judge – then sitting on the powerful Court of Auditors that assessed the bridge project – had given support and confidential information to a businessman and a lawyer, in return for a promise of help finding a lucrative public-sector retirement job – either as head of Italy’s antitrust authority or a state-controlled company, according to Rome prosecutors.
The probe comes as a fresh blow to the troubled Strait of Sicily Bridge project, which was repeatedly shelved over decades on environmental and cost grounds but which has been revived by premier Giorgia Meloni and her government.
However, the project stalled last October when the Court of Auditors refused to authorise it and although the government vowed to press ahead and addess the court’s objections, there has been no significant progress.
Champions of the project, notably infrastructure minister Matteo Salvini, head of the far-right League party – claim a fast road and rail link to Sicily – Italy’s biggest island – is essential.
Critics say the costly 13.5 billion euro bridge is unneccesary, harmful to marine life and dangerous in what is an earthquake-prone area.
