The Webuild Group has won a construction contract (Design-Build) for Fiumefreddo-Taormina/Letojanni Functional Lot 1, which is a subsection of the Giampilieri-Fiumefreddo section of the railway, in Italy. 

Worth about EUR640 million (US$757.98 million), the project will contribute to the doubling of the capacity of the Palermo-Catania-Messina high-capacity railway in Sicily. The consortium of Webuild as a leader (70% stake) and Pizzarotti (30%) was commissioned by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (Gruppo FS Italiane). The lot is expected to create 8,000 jobs and involves work along 15 kilometres of the railway between Messina and Catania, from Fiumefreddo to Taormina/Letojanni. It includes an interconnection at Taormina/Letojanni, the dismantling of installations along the existing line between Fiumefreddo and the link with the historic line. 

Once operational, travel between Messina and Catania will be approximately 30 minutes faster.