The protests, involving over 10,000 demonstrators from Calabria and Sicily, focused on the potential negative impacts of the proposed bridge across the Straits of Messina. Key concerns included:
The bridge's ambitious design, featuring a 3.3 km single span (surpassing the current world record of 1.9 km), further fueled concerns.
Mayors from both Villa San Giovanni and Messina participated in the demonstration, highlighting the project's low priority in their view.
The Messina protestors were joined by 400 demonstrators from the Val di Susa, who are protesting the construction of a high-speed train line between Turin and Lyon.