On Saturday, thousands of residents in Messina took to the streets to protest the Italian government's initiative to construct a bridge linking the island of Sicily with the mainland. The project is estimated to cost €13.5 billion.

According to AP, demonstrators expressed concerns over the bridge's construction across the Strait of Messina, citing its scale, potential earthquake risks, environmental impact, and the threat of mafia involvement.

The idea of building a bridge to connect Sicily with the rest of Italy has been discussed for decades, but every time, its implementation has been postponed due to these contentious issues.

Italy's Minister of Transport, Matteo Salvini, who is a strong supporter of the bridge, referred to it as the "largest infrastructure project in the West."

Salvini cited research that suggests the project could create up to 120,000 jobs annually and stimulate economic growth in southern Italy, as additional billions of euros would go toward modernizing surrounding roads and infrastructure.

However, these arguments do not convince opponents. There is particular outrage over the planned expropriation of property affecting approximately 500 families living in the construction zone.