| If you are a property or real estate investor | | | | project. The protestors want the project |
| in Sicily, you will probably be aware of the | | | | brought back to life.Sicily has lacked |
| ongoing situation regarding the proposed | | | | investment in the past and the protestors, |
| Messina bridge, which would connect Sicily | | | | who included Sicily's local government chief |
| and mainland Italy, by road, and drastically | | | | Salvatore Cuffaro, believe that the bridge |
| reduce the speed to travel between the two. | | | | would drastically help the Sicilian economy |
| The bridge would in effect probably greatly | | | | and also create thousands of jobs. The bridge |
| aid the Sicilian economy and make Sicily even | | | | has already been approved by the E.U. and |
| more accessible and attractive to investors | | | | there is a fair amount of opposition to the |
| and realtors. With the defeat of Berlusconi | | | | bridge, in addition to support for it. The |
| from office, the bridge project (which would | | | | opposition highlight the costs that would be |
| mean creating the longest suspension bridge | | | | involved, and concerns that the mafia could |
| in the world) this year 2006 looks unlikely | | | | become involved in the financial side of the |
| to go ahead. The project was a pet project of | | | | construction work. Others highlight concerns |
| Berlusconi's and Prodi who has taken over | | | | over the environmental impact of the bridge, |
| power, clearly seems to believe that the | | | | if it is built. Many Sicilians though, feel |
| bridge is unnecessary and a waste of money.On | | | | that they deserve finally to get some |
| the 19th September 2006, approximately 1000 | | | | investment into their depressed region.Under |
| residents of Sicilian and neighbouring | | | | Berlusconi, the bridge development would have |
| mainland areas i.e. marched in Rome to voice | | | | commenced this year and finished 2012, at an |
| their support and desire for the Messina | | | | estimated cost of more than 4 billion euros. |
| bridge project, demanding an improved | | | | Estimates in the media, state that the bridge |
| infrastructure in the South of Italy, which | | | | would likely be able to handle four and a |
| has arguably, been neglected over the years. | | | | half thousand cars per hour, up to two |
| The North of Italy is more affluent than the | | | | hundred trains a day. This project would |
| poorer south. One group involved with the | | | | certainly help the Sicilian economy and also |
| protest went as far as staging a pretend | | | | booast the Sicily real estate market. |
| funeral to highlight the death of the bridge | | | | |