A20 Messina-Buonfornello Motorway

The birth of the A20 Messina-Buonfornello Highway dates back to 1969, when construction work began on the first 25 kilometers, from Messina-Boccetta to Villafranca Tirrena, which was inaugurated in 1972.

In 1974, the Cefalù west-Buonfornello section opened on the other side. Between 1977 and 1978, the Brolo-Rocca di Caprileone and Patti Brolo sections were completed.

Construction resumed in 1984 and was completed in 1988 with the opening of the section between Rocca di Caprileone and Sant'Agata di Militello, and in 1992 between Sant'Agata di Militello and the temporary Furiano barrier, which was dismantled in 2006 following the inauguration of the final section to Castelnuovo, connecting with the section between Cefalù and Buonfornello.

Completely managed by the Consorzio per le Autostrade Siciliane, the A20 Messina Buonfornello Highway is a total of 183 kilometers long, featuring 282 viaducts, 124 natural tunnels, and 31 artificial tunnels.

This is a fundamental infrastructure for Sicily because, together with the A19, it connects Palermo to Messina, which is a transit point to Calabria and other regions. The first section, from the junction with the A18 to the Messina-Giostra exit, is free of charge and serves as the Messina ring road.

The speed limit on the highway is 130 km/h. In case of adverse weather conditions, it may be reduced to 110 km/h or lower speeds. Newly licensed drivers, meaning motorists who have obtained their A or B license less than three years ago, must observe a speed limit of 100 km/h.

These are the main intersections:

• A18 Messina-Catania;
• SS113 Settentrionale Sicula;
• SS117 Centrale Sicula;
• SS286 di Castelbuono;
• A19 Palermo-Catania.

Metropolitan City of Messina

• A18 Messina-Catania;
• Messina sud-Tremestieri - km 0.6;
• Messina-San Filippo - km 3.8;
• Messina-Gazzi - km 5.1;
• Messina centro - km 7;
• Messina-Boccetta - km 9;
• Messina-Giostra - km 11.2;
• Barriera Messina nord - km 20.5;
• Villafranca Tirrena - km 20.5;
• Rometta - km 24;
• Milazzo-Isole Eolie - km 38;
• Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto - km 46.6;
• Falcone - km 58.2;
• Patti - km 66.7;
• Brolo-Capo d'Orlando est - km 84.1;
• Rocca di Caprileone-Capo d'Orlando ovest - km 97.4;
• Sant'Agata di Militello - km 107.1;
• Reitano-Santo Stefano di Camastra - km 134.4;
• Tusa - km 145.

Metropolitan City of Palermo

• Castelbuono-Pollina - km 153.6;
• Cefalù - km 166.8;
• Barriera Buonfornello - km 181.8;
• A19 Palermo-Catania - 183.0.

The A20 Messina Buonfornello Highway uses a closed toll system, where drivers must collect a ticket at the entrance toll booth and pay for it when exiting. If you have a Telepass electronic toll device, the process happens automatically by driving through the designated lanes marked with yellow symbols. The amount charged is directly proportional to the distance traveled, your vehicle class coefficient, and the kilometer rate (which varies from highway to highway and is set by the concessionary company).

The cost of traveling the entire A20 route from the Messina north barrier to Buonfornello is estimated at €13.64 for cars and motorcycles (Class A). The travel time under normal traffic conditions is 1 hour and 53 minutes.

These are the costs of the main intermediate routes and their respective travel times without traffic:

• Messina north-Patti: Class A €5.07 - 46 minutes;
• Patti-Buonfornello: Class A €8.61 - 1 hour and 10 minutes.

To get a precise estimate in just seconds of the toll, fuel cost, distance to travel, and journey time along your route, use the Moveo toll calculator.

To stay informed about traffic forecasts and travel times, visit the dedicated page on the Sicilian Highway Consortium website.

Before setting off on your journey, always check the real-time traffic and weather conditions to better plan your route.

You can easily do this through:

• The CCISS Viaggiare Informati service (Radio Rai 1, 2, 3 and Isoradio, toll-free number 1518, mobile app);
• The official website of the Sicilian Motorway Consortium;
• The best weather forecast websites and apps.

These tools provide constant updates on accidents, slowdowns, temporary closures, and weather conditions, helping you to always choose the most fluid and safe route.