ÇUKUROVA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND CONNECTING ROADS NOW OPEN
The Çukurova International Airport and Connecting Roads, which will serve regional centers including Adana and Mersin, were officially opened on August 10, Saturday, during a ceremony held in Yenice. The opening ceremony was attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, General Director of Highways Ahmet Gülşen, public and private sector representatives, and citizens.
In his speech at the opening, President Erdoğan stated that Çukurova International Airport is located 35 kilometers from Adana and 40 kilometers from Mersin, ensuring easy access from both cities. He emphasized that the construction of the connecting roads began simultaneously with the airport's construction.
Highlighting the accessibility to the airport via state roads and highways, the President said, "We have completed 15.9 kilometers of connecting roads to a divided highway standard, ensuring safer, faster, and more comfortable access to the airport. Within the scope of the project, we have built a total of eight single bridges with a total length of 258 meters, two double bridges with a length of 90 meters, and an intersection at different levels with a length of 127 meters. Thanks to the road, we will save a total of 578 million TL annually, including 494 million TL in time and 84 million TL in fuel."
Recalling that 18 million vehicles have passed through the Adana 15 July Martyrs' Bridge since its opening last year, Erdoğan emphasized that they have not neglected Adana and Mersin while serving all parts of Türkiye. He also discussed ongoing investments in the region, stating, “We have invested over 200 billion TL in the transportation and communication infrastructure of both provinces. We are connecting Antalya and Mersin with the 440-kilometer Mediterranean Coastal Road, which shortens the existing 483-kilometer route by 43 kilometers. The project includes 33 tunnels and 77 bridges with a total length of 51.2 kilometers. Once completed, we hope to reduce the travel time from 9 hours and 30 minutes to 4.5 hours."
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu initially mentioned the projects that were opened for service during the year, stating that they have successfully completed major transportation investments such as the Beyşehir-Seydişehir Road, Nallıhan Bird Sanctuary Tunnel and Connecting Roads, Diyarbakır-Batman-Bismil Road, and Yusufeli Merkez Viaduct within the scope of highways. He added that they will undertake many more projects within the framework of the ministry's main goal.
Emphasizing the importance of the project for the region, Uraloğlu stated that the airport will serve over 5 million citizens living in these cities, primarily Mersin and Adana, but also due to its proximity to Osmaniye and Niğde. He also noted that it will be one of Türkiye's most important gateways to the Middle Eastern countries.
