ROME, 17 February 2026

SELI Overseas (Webuild Group): Completion of Excavation of the Forza d’Agrò Tunnel, a Key Infrastructure for the Advancement of the Taormina/Letojanni–Giampilieri Section on the Messina–Catania High-Capacity Railway Corridor

The TBM “Alessia”, operated by SELI Overseas (Webuild Group), has reached and broken through the final diaphragm of the Forza d’Agrò tunnel, completing an excavation of approximately 2.5 kilometres in one of the most geologically complex settings along the entire Messina–Catania high-capacity corridor. The project is an integral part of the Taormina/Letojanni–Giampilieri section, which the consortium led by Webuild is constructing on behalf of RFI (Gruppo FS Italiane).

The excavation, carried out under the direction of SELI Overseas, crossed a particularly sensitive stretch of Sicily’s Ionian coast, where subsurface conditions frequently change in shape and consistency. In this context, rapid decision-making, continuous monitoring, and a strong ability to adapt proved decisive, allowing the TBM Alessia to advance steadily despite constantly changing conditions.

Following this breakthrough, the TBM will be transferred along the Fondaco Parrino viaduct and then relaunched for the mechanised excavation of the Letojanni tunnel, which is over 3.8 kilometres long. The transition from one construction job site to the next will make it possible to continue work on the section towards Messina without interruption.

The Forza d’Agrò tunnel represents one of the key components within the Taormina/Letojanni–Giampilieri infrastructure segment, which overall includes six twin-tube tunnels, two single-tube tunnels, and seven viaducts. The excavation of the five main tunnels in this section involves the use of three TBMs, two of which are operated by SELI Overseas—working on the Forza d’Agrò and Letojanni tunnels as well as the Scaletta and Quali tunnels—and one dedicated to the Sciglio tunnel, also under SELI Overseas’ management.

For SELI Overseas, this breakthrough also confirms the company’s ability to operate in complex environments, interpreting ground conditions and turning operational challenges into tangible progress. This achievement is part of a long-standing tradition of excellence that SELI Overseas has been building for 75 years—an anniversary celebrated just last year—with over 846 km of tunnels excavated in 32 countries, nearly 100 tunnels completed in total, and a unique body of know-how to tackle the most complex underground challenges. Together with Webuild, SELI Overseas has contributed to the delivery of major Italian railway projects, including the Terzo Valico dei Giovi, the Salerno–Reggio Calabria high-speed line, and the Palermo–Catania–Messina high-capacity railway.

With SELI Overseas, pioneering innovations such as the double-shield TBM, introduced in the 1970s, have transformed tunnelling into an engineering art. Today, SELI Overseas is a global centre of excellence within the Webuild Group, committed to the development of advanced and green technologies, including the Dual Model TBM, Continuous Mining, and predictive digital solutions designed to optimise risks and reduce emissions during excavation activities. Looking ahead, the growing demand for integrated and sustainable infrastructure makes SELI Overseas’ role increasingly strategic in the international market, in the construction of systems that are reshaping mobility in major metropolitan areas as well as water infrastructure projects.