Zigana Tunnel
The New Zigana Tunnel, constructed on the route connecting Trabzon to Gümüşhane, Bayburt, Aşkale, and Erzurum, which carries a high traffic load, was opened to traffic on May 3, 2023.
The New Zigana Tunnel, consisting of two tubes and with its connection roads, has a total length of 15.1 kilometers. The ventilation systems of the Zigana Tunnel are composed of vertical shaft structures, a first in Türkiye for road tunnels. The project includes a total of 4 ventilation shaft structures, with 2 stations, each featuring 1 clean air and 1 exhaust air shaft.
The route has been shortened by 8 kilometers, reducing the travel time by 30 minutes for cars and 60 minutes for heavy vehicles. The uninterrupted and comfortable flow of traffic has been established, especially during winter conditions..
The construction, design, and control of the Zigana Tunnel and its connecting roads used one hundred percent local and national resources, and the project was built by Turkish engineers and workers. The Zigana Tunnel is the longest in Türkiye and Europe, and the third-longest twin-tube road tunnel in the world.
