Webuild Achieves Key Construction Milestone on Messina Catania High Capacity Railway with Completion of First Tunnel

HC Line Palermo – Catania – Messina

(IN BRIEF) Webuild has completed excavation of the Forza d’Agrò tunnel, the first finished tunnel on the Messina–Catania high-capacity railway, part of the TEN-T Scandinavian–Mediterranean Corridor. The milestone advances a major infrastructure programme expected to significantly shorten travel times across Sicily while improving resilience and connectivity. The wider project portfolio in Southern Italy supports thousands of jobs, strengthens local supply chains, and includes investments in manufacturing facilities and training centres to build long-term technical capacity.

(PRESS RELEASE) MILAN, 18-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Webuild has reached a key construction milestone on the high-capacity Messina–Catania railway project in Sicily, completing excavation of the Forza d’Agrò tunnel, the first tunnel finished as part of the line’s doubling works. The project, commissioned by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI), forms part of the Scandinavian–Mediterranean axis within the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), aimed at strengthening connections between Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

The 2.5-kilometre tunnel was excavated by tunnel-boring machine “Alessia,” marking a significant advance in the Taormina/Letojanni–Giampilieri section of the new alignment. The TBM has now completed its eastbound excavation and will be dismantled and prepared for reuse on the upcoming Letojanni tunnel, which will extend for more than 3.8 kilometres.

Galleria Forza D’Agrò, Linea ferroviaria AC Messina–Catania

Once the Palermo–Catania–Messina upgrade is fully delivered, rail travel across Sicily is expected to become markedly faster, cutting journey times by around one hour between Palermo and Catania and by roughly 30 minutes between Messina and Catania. These improvements are designed to benefit both regional commuters and long-distance passengers while enhancing the island’s economic competitiveness.

The construction stretch from Fiumefreddo to Giampilieri spans approximately 42.2 kilometres, including 28.4 kilometres within the Taormina/Letojanni–Giampilieri lot. The redesigned route runs further inland than the historic coastal railway to increase long-term infrastructure resilience. Works on this section include six twin-bore tunnels, two single-bore tunnels, and seven viaducts. Among the most complex elements is the Sciglio tunnel, which will exceed 9 kilometres in length and become the longest along the route.

To address challenging and varied geological conditions, TBMs on the project operate in dual-mode configurations capable of adapting to different soil types, supported by Beam Scan monitoring technology that allows continuous geotechnical assessment during excavation.

Webuild’s construction sites in Sicily

The railway works are being carried out by a consortium led by Webuild together with partner Pizzarotti, while SELI Overseas, the Group’s tunnelling subsidiary, is responsible for two of the three TBMs deployed on the project. Webuild is currently active on six sections of the Palermo–Catania–Messina corridor and completed the Bicocca–Catenanuova segment in 2025.

Beyond rail infrastructure, Webuild is managing a broader portfolio of 20 projects across Southern Italy, representing a combined value of around €16 billion. These initiatives employ approximately 10,200 people directly and indirectly and involve a supply chain of about 7,500 companies, underscoring their role in supporting regional industry and employment.

The programme is also driving local industrial development, including advanced manufacturing facilities in Belpasso for producing precast concrete tunnel segments and a new plant in Dittaino. Training and workforce development are supported by a dedicated practical training centre in Belpasso, where personnel receive both classroom instruction and hands-on experience using TBM simulators and equipment to ensure high standards of safety and technical expertise.

In addition to the railway modernisation, Webuild is engaged in other major infrastructure initiatives on the island, such as the Ragusa–Catania motorway, contributing to a broader effort to improve mobility and connectivity throughout Sicily.

Webuild is a global leader in the construction of large, complex infrastructure projects, with a focus on sustainable mobility, hydropower, water treatment, and green buildings. A recognized leader in the water sector and active in 50 countries, the Group employs approximately 95,000 people of over 125 nationalities. It boasts 120 years of experience with over 3,700 completed projects. Its track record includes 13,686 kilometres of railways, 895 kilometres of metro lines, 82,708 kilometres of roads and highways, 1,023 kilometres of bridges and viaducts, and 320 dams and hydropower plants. Among its most iconic projects are the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia, the expansion of the Panama Canal, the Long Beach International Gateway bridge in California, the Second Bosphorus Bridge in Turkey, the Sydney Metro Northwest skytrain viaduct and bridge, the Kingdom Centre skyscraper in Riyadh, and metro lines in cities such as Copenhagen, Paris, Rome, Milan, Naples, Doha, Thessaloniki, and Riyadh. Ongoing projects include the New Genoa Breakwater, the Brenner Base Tunnel, the Pedemontana Lombarda Highway, Metro di Roma’s Line C, the Genoa-Milan and Naples-Bari high-speed/high-capacity railways, the Palermo-Catania-Messina high-capacity railway, the Snowy 2.0 hydropower scheme in Australia and the Dams System in Trojena in Saudi Arabia. As of December 31, 2024, the Group registered total revenues of €12 billion. As of June 30, 2025, its total order backlog stands at approximately €59 billion, with over 90% of its construction backlogrelated to projects linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Listed on the Borsa Italiana stock exchange in Milan (WBD; WBD.MI; WBD:IM), it is member of the MIB ESG index of Italian companies with best ESG practices. Headquartered in Italy, it is subject to the management and coordination of Salini Costruttori S.p.A.

More information at www.webuildgroup.com

Media Relations

Francesca Romana Chiarano
Senior Manager – Media Relations
Tel. +39 02 444 22147
email: f.chiarano@webuildgroup.com

Umberto Lucentini
Communications Manager for Sicily
Tel. +39 339.2039050
email: u.lucentini@kassar.it

SOURCE: Webuild S.p.A.