ROME, Dec 3 - Minutes after Italy's powerful Court of Auditors rejected plans to build a bridge from the mainland to the island of Sicily, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni issued an angry statement accusing the judges of exceeding their authority.

Yet, the outcome was not entirely unexpected. 

Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini had ignored the advice of some of his ministry experts, who warned him in the spring not to rush the approval of the project worth 13.5 billion euros ($15.6 billion), a source with knowledge of the matter said.

The source said officials had asked for more time to assemble the paperwork for the 3.7-kilometre (2.3-mile) structure, the world's longest planned suspension bridge, but Salvini was determined to start work by the end of this year.

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Once the dominant figure on Italy's right, League party leader Salvini has steadily lost ground to Meloni, and failure to deliver the bridge could further damage his image while signaling to investors that the government cannot build infrastructure that would revitalise the economy.

"This has been quite embarrassing. It remains to be seen whether Meloni is prepared to fall on her sword for Salvini, the government does not look so united backing him," said Francesco Galietti, the head of political risk consultancy Policy Sonar.

Following Salvini's lead, the government in early August approved the project, one of the most ambitious and contested in the country's history.

The audit court's rejection of the plan in October bore out the technicians' fears. It highlighted gaps in the paperwork and procedural shortcuts as well as possible non-compliance with European Union environmental and procurement rules.

The infrastructure ministry did not respond to an emailed request for comment about Salvini's choice not to follow the technicians' recommendations.

A bridge between Sicily and the mainland Calabria region has been discussed for decades...