A NEW STEP TOWARD SAFE AND UNINTERRUPTED TRANSPORTATION IN AKSARAY
In order to inaugurate the completed sections of the Ortaköy Ring Road and the Aksaray–Ortaköy Road, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu come Aksaray for the opening ceremony held on Tuesday, January 28. The ceremony, which was also attended by Director General of Highways Ahmet Gülşen, brought together executives from public institutions and organizations, representatives of the contractor companies carrying out the road construction works, and members of the General Directorate of Highways.
Stating that the inaugurated project will both reduce regional traffic and make a significant contribution to Aksaray's agricultural, commercial, and tourism potential, Minister Uraloğlu emphasized that Aksaray is located at the heart of Anatolia, at east–west and north–south transportation corridors, a position that also makes Ortaköy a strategic transit point. He noted that, for this reason, heavy vehicle traffic passing through the district center has made the need for a ring road inevitable, and added that the project was implemented to meet this need.
18.2 Kilometer Section Opened To Traffic
Minister Uraloğlu state that a total of 18.2 kilometers of Aksaray-Ortaköy State Road has been completed and opened to traffic as a divided road with 2x2 lanes and bituminous hot-mix pavement. Addressing some legal delays experienced in the project, Minister Uraloğlu state that the obstacles have been overcome and that work on the remaining sections will continue at a rapid pace. He announced that the entire road is planned to be fully completed with hot asphalt, curbs, and road markings by 2027, while a large portion is expected to be finished within 2026.
Travel Time Reduced From 17 Minutes To Under 10 Minutes
Highlighting that the Ortaköy Ring Road has redirected transit traffic away from the district center, Minister Uraloğlu noted that traffic congestion and stop-and-go conditions in the center have been largely eliminated. Thanks to the new road, travel time in this section of Aksaray has dropped from 17 minutes to under 10 minutes. He stated that the project will generate an economic benefit of 141 million Turkish Lira annually, including 109 million Lira in time savings and 32 million Lira in fuel savings. Additionally, the project is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 1,961 tons, making a significant contribution to the environment.
New Connection To The Ankara-Niğde Motorway To Be Established
Minister Uraloğlu stated that, upon completion of the road, a new divided road connection from Aksaray to the Ankara–Niğde Motorway will also be established. He emphasized that the project is not merely a ring road, but an important investment that will enable faster, safer, and uninterrupted transportation of agricultural, livestock, and industrial products. He noted that the project will help regional apples, grapes, cereals, and livestock products reach markets more quickly, while also providing more comfortable travel for domestic and international tourists visiting Ihlara Valley and Ziga Thermal Springs.
46.1 Billion Lira Transport Investment For Aksaray
In his speech, Minister Uraloğlu also highlighted transport investments across Aksaray, stating that approximately 46 billion 129 million Turkish Lira has been invested in the city since 2002. During this period, he noted, the length of divided road in Aksaray has increased from 17 kilometers to 325 kilometers, while the length of roads with bituminous hot-mix pavement has grown from 7 kilometers to 462 kilometers.
Highligting that Aksaray is connected to Ankara, Konya, Nevşehir and Niğde via divided road, he added that owing to the Ankara-Niğde Motorway, the city has been integrated into the uninterrupted 1,230-kilometer motorway network extending from Edirne to Şanlıurfa. He also shared that while the number of vehicles in Türkiye is approximately 33 million, the motorway has been used by around 29 million vehicles since its opening.
Roads Are A Key Link In The Chain Of Development, Bringing Goals Together
Speaking at the opening, Director General Ahmet Gülşen stated that the Aksaray–Ortaköy–6th Regional Area Directorate Road, which currently serves as a single lane road with surface treatment, is being upgraded to divided road standards with bituminous hot-mix pavement over a total length of 46.3 kilometers. He added that, as the first phase, a total of 18.2 kilometers has been opened to traffic, including the 12-kilometer Ortaköy Ring Road and a 6.2-kilometer section of the Aksaray–Ortaköy Road.
Gülşen emphasized that roads, which have a significant impact in every field, are a vital link in the chain of development that brings together production, employment, and the quality of life in cities toward the same goal. Highlighting the dedicated efforts of General Directorate of Highways personnel working selflessly at hundreds of construction sites across the country, he stated that it is through their hard work that Türkiye's roads are being carried into the future, and assured that the projects will continue to progress with determination.
