Italy has approved plans to build the world’s largest suspension bridge, connecting the mainland to Sicily, in a €13.5 billion ($15.5 billion) project long delayed by concerns over earthquakes, the environment, and mafia involvement.

Transport Minister Matteo Salvini called it the West’s biggest infrastructure project, expected to create 120,000 jobs annually and boost southern Italy’s economy.

Preliminary work may begin by late 2025, with construction set for next year and completion targeted between 2032 and 2033, PBS News has reported.

Written by B.C. Begley