This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

221725Z Nov 05

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ROME 003857 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD EINV EIND IT BUY AMERICA
SUBJECT: EMBASSY TOLD U.S. PARSONS WINS PROJECT MANAGEMENT 
CONTRACT TO OVERSEE CONSTRUCTION OF 7 BILLION DOLLAR BRIDGE 
(BUT WILL IT BE BUILT?) 
 
REF: A. ROME 02087 
 
     ¶B. ROME 00014 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1. Parsons Corp., a California-based engineering and 
construction firm, told the Embassy that it has provisionally 
been awarded the 120 million euro project management contract 
to oversee construction of the bridge to connect mainland 
Italy and Sicily.  Italian engineering firm Impregilo had 
previously been awarded the general contract for the final 
design and construction of the bridge.  These developments 
are the closest Italy has been to realizing this 40-year-old 
project.  Impregilo will lead a consortium of Italian and 
international engineering/construction firms (none U.S.). 
There has long been skepticism over whether the bridge would 
be built; and while strong opposition remains, consensus is 
growing that it will be built, if for no other reason than 
that too many contractual commitments have been made. 
However, skeptics believe that any change in the GOI 
governing majority resulting from the spring 2006 general 
elections will again paralyze the project.  The European 
Commission has threatened to halt funding and take action 
against Italy for not providing a full environmental impact 
assessment. Italy has until year-end to respond, or risk EU 
co-funding. 
 
¶2.  If ever built, the bridge would be the longest 
single-span suspension bridge in the world (3.3 kilometers) 
and would reportedly be the most expensive infrastructure 
project ever in Italy (6 billion euros).  Through state-owned 
companies, the GOI will reportedly fund forty percent of the 
project; possible EU funding and private capital will cover 
the remaining sixty percent. Investors will reportedly be 
paid back over thirty years from toll receipts.  End Summary. 
 
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Parsons Awarded Project Management Contract. 
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¶3.  Pending formal review of its documentation, Parsons 
Corp., a Pasadena, California-based engineering and 
construction firm, was provisionally awarded November 17 the 
contract to monitor and verify implementation of the final 
project to construct a bridge connecting Sicily to mainland 
Italy.  The contract is worth 120 million euros.  The Italian 
engineering and construction company Impregilio had been 
chosen October 12 to be the general contractor for design and 
construction of the bridge (Comment: while several companies 
had qualified to bid for the general contract, uncertainties 
surrounding the project meant only two chose to compete. 
Moreover, the losing bidder, a consortium led by the Italian 
firm Astaldi, has reportedly decided to appeal the award 
decision.  Formalization of award to Impregilo is pending the 
Astaldi appeal. End Comment.)  Impregilo will head an 
international partnership including, inter alia, Spain's 
Sacyr, Danish Cowi and Japan's IHI. 
 
¶4. This is the largest infrastructure project ever planned in 
Italy.  The actual bridge will cost 3.9 billion euros (5 
billion USD), though the entire project may cost an overall 6 
billion euro (more than 7 billion USD) once supporting 
infrastructure costs and inflation are considered.  Although 
presenting this as a "business investment," rather than a 
direct, non-refundable state contribution, the GOI via 
state-owned companies, will cover approximately forty percent 
of the costs.  The GOI claims this arrangement will not 
impact the State's budget.  Sixty percent will be covered by 
possible EU funding and private risk capital.   (Comment: 
while not in the original financial plan, EU funds may cover 
up to ten percent of the total, since this project is 
considered an "EU-level interest project." End Comment.) 
Embassy contacts estimate the original investment would be 
made back through tolls over a 30-year period. 
 
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If Built...Facts and Figures 
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¶5. If built, the "Messina Strait" bridge would be the longest 
single-span suspension bridge in the world (3.3 kilometers, 
or almost three times as long as the Golden Gate); and its 
two towers would rise 382 meters (taller than the Eiffel 
Tower).  The 60-meter width will provide room for six lanes, 
two service/pedestrian lanes, and two rail tracks.  Work is 
scheduled to begin in 2006 and last 70 months. 
 
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GOI Says Benefits Will Be Immediate and Enduring. 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶6.  The GOI fully supports the project and Infrastructure 
Minister Lunardi has said, "By appointing a general 
contractor, everyone will understand that we were not joking 
when we committed to build the bridge.  The tender is closed, 
the party that will build the bridge is known, and work will 
begin next year." 
 
¶7. Our contacts report that the GOI believes construction of 
the bridge, "in addition to the obvious practical advantage 
of connecting Sicily to the mainland by road," will have both 
an immediate and an enduring economic and social impact. The 
GOI believes that up to 75 percent of the total investment 
will remain in southern Italy and particularly in the two 
regions of Sicily and Calabria.  An estimated 40,000 jobs 
will be created directly and indirectly from construction of 
the bridge. (Comment. This figure may be inflated, and many 
say that only one quarter of the jobs created will be 
directly in bridge construction, while the rest will be 
through a multiplier effect.  End Comment.) 
 
¶8. The GOI claims that the bridge itself will generate new 
economic opportunities (such as creating business centers on 
either side of the bridge); road connections between the 
island and the mainland will also increase tourism and trade. 
The rail connection will allow goods to move faster and more 
efficiently from Sicily to mainland Italy (and the rest of 
Europe) thus making Sicily's ports more attractive 
destinations for goods coming from the Mediterranean area. 
Also, connecting Sicily to mainland Italy will bring 
psychological and social benefits to the area that will be 
"closer" to Europe's heart.  Finally, as the "life cycle" of 
the bridge is envisioned to be much longer than the thirty 
years it will take to make the investment back (per our 
contacts), the GOI claims that the bridge itself will, 
eventually, become a profitable operation. 
 
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...But Will it Really Be Built? 
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¶9.  One press commentary underscored that, "1000 obstacles 
remain before the bridge is built." Although many see 
appointing a general contractor (pending appeal, see para 3) 
as a point of no return, opposition to the bridge 
construction remains strong.  Most members of the current 
center-left political opposition are against the project; and 
experts believe that if the center-left wins the spring 2006 
general elections, the project will be shelved. 
 
¶10. Some opponents believe that, while it is not a bad 
project per se, the GOI should focus on other priorities 
first.  Many are concerned that costs will escalate, making 
the project economically unviable.  There are also doubts on 
the long-term economic and social benefits of the bridge. 
Some are concerned with safety aspects (the Messina strait is 
a seismic area). Another big concern is that organized crime, 
the Sicilian mafia in particular, will win control of the 
project. However, environmentalists--who believe the bridge 
will irreparably spoil the coastline and dramatically affect 
the existing fauna--have made the strongest arguments against 
construction of the bridge. 
 
¶11.  The European Commission's Directorate for the 
Environment, following a case filed by the World Wildlife 
Fund, has taken a first step towards opening an infringement 
proceeding against Italy, by arguing that Italy "has not 
taken adequate measures to prevent deterioration of the 
environment and disruption for birds. (Apparently, 312 
species migrate over the Messina strait.)  Italy has until 
year's-end to respond.  Press reports indicate that such 
Commission initiatives are common and maintain that the 
Commission is not going to take a "dogmatic" approach.  Thus, 
there reportedly is a good possibility that Italy will be 
able to argue a successful case.  However, the risk that 
possible EU funding may dry up also exists. 
 
¶12.  Separately, allegations of misconduct in the tender 
procedure have been raised; and an investigation is ongoing. 
However, the consensus appears to be that such allegations 
are unfounded. 
 
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COMMENT 
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¶13.  The "pharaonic" Messina bridge project has been on 
Italy's agenda for almost forty years. Innumerable studies, 
opinions, papers, seminars, projects, televisions shows, and 
political debates have been dissected the issue.   However, 
assigning the general contractor and the project management 
contracts is the closest Italy has ever been to actually 
launching the project.  That said, there are several facts 
that beg cautious optimism.  First, opposition is very 
strong; and if there is a change in Italy's leadership in 
2006, construction may well cease.  (However, should the 
project be stalled, there could be a price to pay for 
breaching commitments already made.)  A second big obstacle 
is that  private funding has not yet been lined up. End 
Comment. 
 
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EMBASSY FOLLOW-UP 
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¶14. Embassy will closely monitor developments, both to report 
possible subcontract tenders for U.S. firms and to monitor 
transparency of the process as part of our efforts to promote 
transparency in Italy's public procurements. 
SPOGLI