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8/28/2025

Topic Reading-Vol.4874-8/28/2025

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 
Italy gives final approval for world's longest suspension bridge to Sicily
Lying just off the “toe” of Italy’s “boot”, Sicily is the largest Mediterranean island. It is rich in historical sites, including the Valley of the Temples, Doric-style Greek temples, and Byzantine mosaics. A ferry service across the Strait of Messina connects Messina, Sicily’s harbor city, and Reggio Calabria, the toe of the Italian Peninsula. Since the narrowest point of the strait is only around three kilometers, there have been discussions about building a bridge across the strait. Supporters claim the benefits of boosting tourism to the island and creating jobs, while opponents raise concerns over the mafia’s involvement and safety because the area has an intense seismic record. Earlier this month, Italy’s administration decided to build a 3.3km-span suspension bridge over the strait, the world’s longest, with two railway lines in the middle and three lanes of traffic on either side. Rome hopes to include the construction costs in its defence expenditures, which are expected to amount to 5% of the nation’s GDP. Connecting two distinct lands may spur the local economy, but it’ll also have an impact on local ecology, environment, and heritage.
Read the article and learn about Rome’s attempt to connect Sicily to its mainland.

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