Italy has taken a giant step towards realizing a goal first envisioned thousands of years ago. Earlier this month, the nation’s government and the architectural firm Webuild announced final approval measures to begin construction on the world’s longest suspension bridge.

Thousands of people have marched in Messina, Sicily, to protest a government plan to build a bridge connecting the Italian mainland with Sicily.

Residents are opposed to the bridge over its scale, earthquake threats, environmental effect, and mafia interference.