TRANSPORT CONNECTIVITY IN KARAMAN STRENGTHENED BY THE RING ROAD
Section 1 of the Karaman Ring Road opened to traffic on Friday, 1 May, with the participation Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu. Director General of Highways Ahmet Gülşen, representatives of public institutions, organizations company officials and citiziens attended to the opening ceremony. Minister Uraloğlu, who began his speech by highlighting the meaning and significance of May 1st Labour Day, stated that the inauguration of section1 of the Karaman Ring Road added further significance to this special day.
The Project which Completed and Ongoing in Karaman
Minister Uraloğlu stated that, as the Ministry, they have been carrying out investments to strengthen the transport and communication infrastructure of Karaman, as in all parts of the country. He noted that since 2002, approximately 68 billion lira has been invested, the length of divided roads has been increased from 19 kilometres to 175 kilometres, and in a city where there were previously no bituminous hot mix (BSK) paved roads, 298 kilometres of BSK surfaced roads have been constructed. He also added that 288 kilometres of single lane roads have been completely renewed.
Referring to the highway projects implemented in Karaman, Minister Uraloğlu said: 'We have completed and opened to traffic major highway projects such as the Karaman–Ayrancı–Ereğli Road, the Ermenek Ring Road, the Karaman–Bucakkışla–Ermenek Road, the Ağızboğazı Bridge and Ağızboğazı TCDD Overpass Bridge on the Karaman–Ayrancı–Ereğli Road, the Ayrancı–Erdemli Junction interchange, and the Governor Interchange on the Karaman–Mersin Road. At present, construction works are ongoing on five major highway projects, including the Karaman Ring Road section 2, the Karaman–Bucakkışla–Ermenek Road, the Ermenek–Mut Road, the (Taşkent–Alanya) Junction–Sarıveliler Roads, and the Sertavul Tunnel. We are also pleased to inaugurate Section 1 of the Karaman Ring Road, which is one of the largest among these projects'.
Traffic Congestion is Being Eased, Transport Infrastructure is Being Developed for the Future
Minister Uraloğlu noted that the increase in domestic and international visitor mobility to Karaman in recent years, as well as the city's location on an important transit corridor between Konya, Mersin, and Antalya, has led to rising traffic congestion within the city. He emphasized that this situation has adversely affected both urban traffic and logistics, agriculture, and trade activities. In this context, he stated that the Karaman Ring Road, with a total length of 21.2 kilometres, has been designed in two sections to strengthen the city's transport infrastructure and carry it into the future, and that approximately 12 kilometres of section 1 have been completed.
Minister Uraloğlu continued his remarks on the project details as follows: 'We have completed Section 1 of the project as a bituminous hot mix (BSK) surfaced dual carriageway with 2 lanes in each direction, totalling 4 lanes. On this section put into service, we have constructed 3 interchanges, 1 level crossing intersection, 1 viaduct, 2 bridges, 3 underpasses, and 20 culverts, thereby implementing one of the finest examples of modern engineering. In addition, we have planted 5,200 saplings in line with the local vegetation. We have also carried out xeriscaping works over an area of 70,000 square metres in junction and median areas, ensuring water conservation while creating an aesthetic and sustainable landscape design. With this section opened to traffic, we have provided a connection between the Karaman–Adana and Karaman–Mersin roads, enabling transit traffic to bypass the city centre and making it safer, faster, more comfortable, and more fluid.We have also improved access to production and commercial areas, particularly the Karaman Organized Industrial Zone, making it faster and safer.'
Karaman in Gaining a Smoother, Safer, and more Sustainable Transport Infrastructure
Uraloğlu stated that travel time was reduced to 6 minutes and as a result, annual savings of a total of 340 million lira, including 313 million lira from time savings and 27 million lira from fuel savings. He also stated that, thanks to smoother traffic flow, carbon emissions will be reduced by 1,361 tonnes annually, thereby contributing to environmental sustainability.
Full Integration with the Karaman–Konya State Road via Section 2
Minister Uraloğlu noted that, with the completion of the 9.4-kilometre-long section 2 of the ring road, where construction works are ongoing, the Karaman–Konya State Road corridor will also be integrated into the ring road network. He stated that, by establishing a more efficient highway network, the city will be provided with a smoother, safer, and more sustainable transport infrastructure.
A Strategic Step in Regional Transportation
Director General of Highways Ahmet Gülşen, in his speech at the inauguration ceremony of Section 1 of the Karaman Ring Road, emphasized that the project is a strategic step in terms of regional transportation.
Gülşen noted that Karaman is located on an important corridor connecting Central Anatolia to the Mediterranean. He stated that the inclusion of intercity bidirectional traffic within urban transport has further increased traffic congestion, making a high-capacity highway infrastructure in the city a necessity.
In this context, Gülşen stated that the first section of the Karaman Ring Road, which has a total planned length of 21.2 kilometres and is being constructed to a 2x2-lane dual carriageway standard, has been completed and opened to traffic. He noted that the project will significantly ease transportation, particularly by diverting transit traffic away from the city centre.
Gülşen noted that a large number of engineering structures, including interchanges, viaducts, bridges, underpasses, and various ancillary structures, have been constructed on the Section 1 opened to traffic. He stated that, thanks to the improved road standard, traffic flow along the route has been made uninterrupted.
