Sicily's A20 Messina‑Palermo Highway Demands Urgent Safety Overhaul

A coalition of 24 Sicilian municipalities has approved a motion urging the regional government to address serious safety deficiencies on the A20 Messina‑Palermo highway. The motion, promoted by Gianfranco Gentile, president of the Pettineo municipal council, is addressed to Regional President Renato Schifani and Infrastructure Minister Alessandro Aricò. It highlights insufficient lighting, especially in tunnels, and outdated safety barriers that jeopardise daily traffic. The municipalities request the creation of an urgent technical table involving the Sicilian Region, the Consorzio per le Autostrade Siciliane (CAS), ANAS and the local councils to draft a work schedule and consider measures such as economic compensation or temporary suspension of tolls for users of the most affected sections. Over thirty town councils, including Pettineo, Capo d’Orlando, Cefalù and many others, have signed the motion, signalling broad local consensus for immediate action.