Contractor starts mass hiring for record-breaking bridge

Webuild is moving ahead with hiring thousands of workers for the Strait of Messina Bridge project, even as the €13.5 billion scheme awaits final regulatory approvals from environmental agencies and Italy’s public spending watchdog.

Italian contractor Webuild has begun recruiting thousands of workers ahead of construction on the proposed Strait of Messina Bridge, which would become the world’s longest suspension span if completed.

The €13.5 billion project received final approval in Rome this August. The bridge would link Sicily to mainland Calabria with a 3.3km span between two 400m steel towers, carrying two railway lines and six traffic lanes.

However, the project still requires approval from environmental agencies at national and EU level, as well as sign-off from the Corte dei Conti, Italy’s public spending watchdog, Construction briefing reports.

Despite this, Webuild has initiated the selection process to hire thousands of workers for the bridge construction.

Webuild leads the Eurolink consortium appointed to build the bridge, alongside Spain’s Sacyr, Japan’s IHI, and Italian firms Condotte and Itinera. Danish firm Cowi is part of the design team.

The company said it would deploy its “Cantiere Lavoro Italia” training program to support the project. Launched in 2003, the program has trained approximately 1,700 people to date.

Webuild has also partnered with the regions of Sicily, Calabria and Campania to attract new candidates from schools and universities.