Italy has given the green light to a long-debated infrastructure project: a €13.5 billion ($15.7 billion) suspension bridge that will connect Sicily to the Italian mainland, marking a significant step forward in a plan that has languished for decades.

Italy's government gave final approval on Wednesday to the construction of what will be the world's longest single-span bridge, linking Sicily to the mainland, despite environmental, financial and other concerns that have delayed it for decades.

PM Meloni's coalition hailed the project as an economic boost, while critics worry about its impact and cost, which comes in at over €13 billion. If completed, the bridge would be the world's longest.