The Italian government has approved the construction of the Strait of Messina Bridge, which will become the world's longest suspension bridge and will connect mainland Italy to Sicily. The $16 billion project will span the strait with a suspended bridge deck linked by cables that stretch between two 1,309-foot-tall towers. The full length of the bridge will be 2.2 miles, two miles of which will be suspended. The project is not without controversy, with critics focusing on cost, environmental impact, the removal of 550 homes needed to make room for the project, and concerns over mafia influence. The plan includes six lanes of traffic, 25 miles of underground train lines, three underground train stations, and 10 viaducts.