Editing Calabria (section)

===Planned bridge===

[[File:Strait of Messina - NASA.jpg|upright|thumb|left|picture of stretto di Messina.]] 
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{{Main|Strait of Messina Bridge}}
Plans for a bridge linking Sicily to Calabria have been discussed since 1865. Throughout the last decade, plans were developed for a road and rail link to the mainland via what would be the world's longest [[suspension bridge]], the [[Strait of Messina Bridge]]. Planning for the project has experienced several false starts over the past few decades. On 6 March 2009, [[Silvio Berlusconi]]'s government declared that the construction works for the Messina Bridge would begin on 23 December 2009, and announced a pledge of €1.3&nbsp;billion as a contribution to the bridge's total cost, estimated at €6.1&nbsp;billion.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7928949.stm Italy revives Sicily bridge plan from BBC News]. Retrieved 8 March 2009.</ref>
The plan has been criticized by environmental associations and some local Sicilians and Calabrians, concerned with its environmental impact, economic sustainability and even possible infiltrations by organized crime.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/italy/story/0,,1920199,00.html |work=Guardian.co.uk |title=Italian MPs kill plan to bridge Sicily and mainland |date=2 January 2008 |location=London |first=John |last=Hooper |access-date=30 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120777463250502755?mod=todays_us_nonsub_page_one&apl=y&r=769642 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |title=No Italian Job Takes Longer Than This Bridge |date=10 April 2008 |first=Gabriel |last=Kahn}}</ref>