Pietro Salini: may the tangible spirit that allowed building the Genoa Bridge, in record time, also be a source of inspiration for the Strait of Messina

Milan, April 26, 2021 - 'I would like the tangible, practical spirit of the Genoese, with their simple way of doing things, which allowed us to build the Genoa Bridge, in record time, to also accompany us along this Italian journey to build other works. The Messina Bridge is a gigantic technological challenge. Measuring 3 kilometres in length, it is suspended over the strait, a magical place that connects to the Magna Graecia. It also represents the Italian challenge, towards the rest of the world'. With these words, Webuild CEO Pietro Salini, during the awarding of the Premio Arte, Scienza e Coscienza 2020 prize, in Genoa, underlined how the Genoa San Giorgio Bridge can become a source of inspiration for other strategic Italian works.

'I am very proud to have built this bridge together with the administration, the other companies, the supply chain, and the Genoese themselves - continued Salini -. This useful and beautiful work is the fruit of many people, who worked on it with great passion. But above all it is an infrastructure that allowed us to make a dream come true, during a very difficult time for Italy. We demonstrated that work produces its fruits. And we are therefore very proud of being a part of that 'Genoa Model' which has now become a global paradigm, for its capacity of uniting and getting things done. I would also like Genoa to join us, on this new Bridge over the Strait experience, to build this titanic work, ideally twinned with Reggio Calabria and Messina. And I would like Rina Consulting and Fincantieri to also join us in creating this work, where steel means union. And Renzo Piano, to look at the bridge, providing that magical touch that only his pencil can bring', concluded Mr Salini.

The prize was sponsored by the Municipality of Genoa, in collaboration with the Enrico Mattei, Infinity Foundation and Planet Life Economy foundations. It is dedicated to the men and women who stood out in the fields of human progress, from a scientific, artistic and ethical point of view, celebrating the reconstruction of the Genoa-San Giorgio bridge, this year. It was received by Mr Salini, Genoa Mayor Marco Bucci, architect and senator Renzo Piano, Fincantieri CEO Giuseppe Bono, and Rina CEO Roberto Carpaneto.