Messina Portalegni viaduct construction nears October completion

Construction of the Portalegni viaduct in Messina has reached a decisive phase, with the installation of foundation piles completed and load testing underway. The project, part of the redevelopment of the new Via Don Blasco, is currently scheduled for completion by the end of October.

Local business owners are reporting severe economic distress due to the prolonged closure of the northern section of Via Don Blasco. Councilman Libero Gioveni of Fratelli d'Italia has highlighted that the road has been obstructed for nearly a year, leading to an exponential drop in turnover for nearby shops.

Critics have pointed to repeated delays in the project's timeline, noting that delivery dates have been pushed back multiple times from March to the current October estimate. Local representatives are calling on the municipal administration to provide financial relief or tax breaks to mitigate the impact on struggling commercial activities.