THE STRAIT OF MESSINA BRIDGE PROJECT INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A ROAD AND RAILWAY CROSSING JOINING CALABRIA, ITALY TO THE ISLAND OF SICILY. THE BRIDGE IS 3,300 METRES LONG AND WILL BE THE LONGEST SINGLE-SPAN SUSPENSION BRIDGE EVER BUILT. THE 60-METRE WIDTH WILL ACCOMMODATE SIX TRAFFIC LANES AND TWO RAILWAY TRACKS. IT IS A MASSIVE PROJECT BY ANY MEASURE.

The work plan of the proposing company, Stretto di Messina SpA, was approved by the Italian Government in 2003 and a tender has been called to identify the General Contractor. During 2005, a definitive work plan will be outlined and approval procedures initiated.

The project is located in a very sensitive area with complex ecosystems. Golder has been asked to draft the Environmental Technical Specifications to define the environmental mitigation works for the final design and construction design for the execution phase of the project. The set of specifications has been developed according to relevant national and European legislation, as well as state-of-the-art technical standards and will be a core part of the tender documentation.

Golder has also been asked to draft the Technical Specifications for the Environmental Monitoring Plan, which will address all environmental aspects, including territorial and social components.

The Monitoring Plan is a key tool to verify the environmental performance of the project over its whole life cycle.

The final project will involve substantial reclamation of the area and will be developed to achieve the best environmental compatibility, based on the existing plan and emerging sustainability practices.