TURKIYE'S DIVIDED ROAD NETWORK REACHES 30,000 KILOMETERS
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan inaugurated the 30,000th kilometer of the completed divided road network. The 'General Directorate of Highways 30,000th Kilometer Divided Road Inauguration Ceremony,' held at the Haliç Congress Center, was attended by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Director General of Highways Ahmet Gülşen, highway officials, and numerous guests.
President Erdoğan thanked all workers who worked devotedly on the construction of the roads and who blended the asphalt with their hard work, stating: 'I express my gratitude to all team members involved in the road construction projects; I congratulate our esteemed Ministers and Directors General, every member of our Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the General Directorate of Highways, as well as our former Ministers of Transport who contributed in previous periods, for these divided roads, which have now reached a total length of 30,049 kilometers.'
We Extend The Length Of The Divided Road Network To A Total Of 30,049 Kilometers
President Erdoğan referred to the length of the divided road network was only 6,101 kilometers in 2002, in his statement he included the following remarks;
'Only our six province connected to each other by divided roads. On single-lane roads, our citizens were wasting countless hours of their lives.We changed this scene which was unbecoming to Türkiye and our citiziens.Without delay, we launched the works, and over 23 years, we increased the number of provinces connected by divided road to 77, and extended the total length of the divided road network to 30,049 kilometers. And today, we are excited to cut the ribbon fort he 30,000th kilometer of our divided road together with you.'
President Erdoğan indicated that by constructing the highways, they not only contributed to the development of Türkiye, but also they prevented to waste time and fuel. 'we minimized to vehicle wear and tear, reduced environmental pollution, ensured the generation of additional value in every sector of life, from tourism to agriculture. Intercity travel is no longer a burden for our citizens; it has practically become a pleasure. Together with all these achievements, we have further strengthened our country's central role in the east-west and north-south transportation corridors.'
We Have Reduced The Accident Rate Resulting From Road Defect To Almost Zero
Noting that with highways, high-speed trains, airports; and with projects such as Marmaray, the Eurasia Tunnel, the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, the Gulf Crossing, the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, and many other major investments,Türkiye has become one of the most advantageous countries in its region, Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows:
'Above all, for us, It is the reduction of traffic accidents that have claimed the lives of many citizens and extinguished countless households. We have reduce the accident rate resulting from road defect to almost zero. This is priceless. Every life saved and every accident avoided is worth the whole world to us.'
Minister Uraloğlu: 'When Only 6 Province Connected By Divided Road, Now We Connected 77 Provinces To Each Other'
Speaking at ceremony Minister Uraloğlu, emphasized that, following President Erdoğan's vision and instructions that 'roads are civilization,' they launched the divided road initiative in road transport starting from 2002, adding, 'We have expanded our country with high-standard road network, regardless of east-west or north-south directions. He stated, 'Our divided road network, which was 6,101 kilometers in 2002, has now reached 30,000 kilometers. While only six provinces were connected by divided roads back then, we have now linked all 77 provinces. We increased our highway length from 1,714 kilometers to 3,796 kilometers. The total length of our bridges and viaducts has risen from 311 kilometers to 819 kilometers, and tunnels from 50 kilometers to 847 kilometers. Last year, we constructed 57 kilometers of tunnels. If we were to connect all these bridges and tunnels end to end, it would span the distance from Istanbul to Iğdır.
He pointed out that, although divided road now account for 44 percent of Türkiye's road network, they serve 83 percent of all traffic on the network. He stated, 'With our divided road investments, we have not only improved traffic safety, travel speed, and comfort, but also achieved a significant reduction in traffic accident fatalities. The number of deaths per 100 million vehicle kilometers has decreased by 81 percent.
Uraloğlu expressed that this project and achievements were materialized at opening ceremony, attended by President Erdoğan. And he continued:
'Since 2002, you attented a total of 171 opening ceremonies under the General Directorate of Highways, these projects put into service for our nation. In particular, your participation in our ceremonies since 2018, with 90 inaugurations, stands as the clearest indication of your resolve and determination. Your presence in the field has further accelerated the pace of the projects, facilitated the overcoming of obstacles, and crowned our country's achievements in the transportation sector.'
Thanks To Our Divided Road Network And Motorways, We Have Achieved A Total Economic Benefit Of 303 Billion Lira Annualy Throught Saving In Time And Fuel
Minister Uraloğlu stated that the 30,000 kilometers divided road network is not merely a figure, but a development epic of Türkiye, emphasizing that each kilometer represent a tangible gain that directly touches the daily lives of citizens, enabling them to reach their work, livelihood and families more safely and swiftly.
He noted that 'Thirty thousand kilometers is equivalent to three-quarters of the Earth's circumference. By means of our divided road network and motorways, we have achieved a total economic benefit of 303 billion lira annualy through saving in time and fuel.We have removed 6,3 million tons of carbon emissions from the atmosphere annualy. We are leaving a cleaner Türkiye for future generations.'
It Was Not By Excuse, But Throught Determination And Resolve That We Reached 30,000 Kilometers Of Divided Roads
Minister Uraloğlu stated that with every kilometer of road, they have touched lives and built bridges of the heart that unite loving hearts. Drawing strength from our achievements so far and with the blessing of our people, we continue on this path. We will successfully complete ongoing projects and bring new ones to life. Its was not by excuses, but through determination and resolve that we have reached 30,000 kilometers of divided roads, he added.
We Aim To First Expand Our Divided Road Network To 31,250 Kilometers, And Subsequently To 38,060 Kilometers
Recalling that President Erdoğan once wrote on a classroom blackboard the words 'read, think, implement, and conclude,' Minister Uraloğlu said, 'As the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, we implement our plans in line with exactly this principle. Today, our divided road network, which has reached 30,000 kilometers, is the tangible outcome of this vision. We aim to first expand our divided road network to 31,250 kilometers and subsequently to 38,060 kilometers. By placing integration at the center of future transportation systems, we will usher in a new era of transportation through proactive policies that will take us further ahead, enhance connectivity, and equip our infrastructure with intelligent transportation systems.'
