M5S-funded Sicilian bypass road opened

(ANSA) - Palermo, July 31 - A bypass financed by Italy's 5-Star Movement (M5S) is set to open to traffic on Saturday to provide a workaround after a viaduct collapsed on the A19 road between Palermo and Catania in April, effectively splitting Sicily in half.
    The bypass is a 300-metre-long road that has been renovated and made safe thanks to 300,000 euros of financing provided by M5S regional deputies, who put aside part of their salaries.
    A ceremony to mark the inauguration of the road took place on Friday morning and it will be open for traffic from Saturday, August 1.
    "This road is a sign of the times- we wanted to show that we are political force that wants to gain credibility among the people," said Giancarlo Cancelleri from M5S at Friday's inauguration ceremony.
    A column supporting the highway gave way in April following a landslide, cutting one of the island's main transport connections. Repairs to the affected stretch are expected to take months or years.