MINISTER URALOĞLU INSPECTED THE WORKS ON THE NAKKAŞ-BAŞAKŞEHIR SECTION OF THE NORTHERN MARMARA MOTORWAY
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu inspected the ongoing Nakkaş–Başakşehir section of the Northern Marmara Motorway Project and received information from officials about the progress of the works. Minister Uraloğlu made statements to the press following his site inspection.
Uraloğlu stated that the Northern Marmara Motorway is one of the most prestigious projects in the transportation sector, noting that the remaining final section of the Project the Nakkaş–Başakşehir segment consists of 24.2 kilometers of mainline and 20.8 kilometers of link roads, with a total length of 45 kilometers.
Uraloğlu noted that the Northern Marmara Motorway is one of the largest infrastructure projects implemented and operated under the public–private partnership (PPP) model, stating: “The Northern Marmara Motorway, which starts from Kınalı in the western part of Istanbul, passes through Istanbul, Kocaeli, and Sakarya from the north, and ends near the Akyazı district of Sakarya, is one of the most important highway investments of our country. It is of great importance, particularly as an alternative route that will ensure the sustainability of transportation between Istanbul, Kocaeli, and Sakarya and other provinces in the event of a possible earthquake, as well as for the completion of the Marmara Motorway Ring in the Marmara Region."
Marmara Motorway Ring Will Reach to 1,255 Kilometers
Minister Uraloğlu stated that, to strengthen the integration of the ports, railway network, and air transportation systems in the Marmara and Aegean regions the most economically developed regions of Türkiye with the country's highway network, they are planning a 1,255 kilometer motorway ring around the Sea of Marmara, consisting of the Northern Marmara Motorway, the Istanbul–Izmir Motorway, and the Kınalı–Tekirdağ–Çanakkale–Balıkesir Motorway.
Within this scope, Minister Uraloğlu recalled that, to date, 398 kilometers of the Northern Marmara Motorway, excluding the Nakkaş–Başakşehir Section, have been opened to traffic. He also noted that the 426-kilometer Istanbul–Izmir Motorway and the 101-kilometer Malkara–Çanakkale Section, which includes the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, have also been put into service.
Uraloğlu said, “As of today, 925 kilometers of the Marmara Motorway Ring are open to traffic. Construction is also continuing on the Nakkaş–Başakşehir Section, which we inspected today, as well as the 127-kilometer Kınalı–Malkara Motorway, which will extend the ring from Kınalı to Malkara. We also plan to implement the 136-kilometer Çanakkale–Savaştepe Section, the final link that will complete the Marmara Motorway Ring, in the coming period."
Sazlıdere Bridge will be the most significant structure of the Project
Providing information about the project route Uraloğlu stated that the Nakkaş-Başakşehir section starts at the Nakkaş Interchange, passes north of the Yeşilbayır, Deliklikaya, and Hadımköy settlements, continous via the Sazlıdere Bridge, which was constructed south of the Sazlıdere Dam, and reaches the Olympic stadium and Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital through the City Hospital Interchange.
Uraloğlu stated that the route crosses the Başakşehir Water Valley via a specially designed bridge constructed using the incremental launching method and ends at the Başakşehir Interchange of the Northern Marmara Motorway. He also stated that a 5-kilometre link road branching off from the Başakşehir Interchange will provide access to the zoning roads in the Ispartakule area and the TEM İstanbul–Edirne Motorway.
Uraloğlu stated that the project includes the construction of 7 interchanges, 1 interchange, the Sazlıdere Bridge, a cable-stayed bridge with inclined pylons, 7 viaducts, 9 bridges, 10 box-grider underpasses, and 43 culverts. “The most significant structure of this section is the Sazlıdere Bridge. We designed the bridge with four lanes in each direction and a 46-metre-wide deck. Our bridge features a 440-metre main span and two 210-metre side spans, supported by two diamond-shaped pylons rising 196 metres high. With its main and side spans, the bridge has a total length of 860 metres, which will reach 1,618 metres when its 249-metre and 509-metre approach viaducts are included. We are also constructing the viaduct crossing the Başakşehir Water Valley using the Movable Scaffolding System (MSS) method in order to minimize disruption to the social life of local residents," he said.
Physical Progress on the Project Surpasses 80%
Providing an update on the latest progress of the works, Minister Uraloğlu stated that, of the 16.9 million cubic metres of excavation planned for the earthworks, 14 million cubic metres have been completed, while 5 million cubic metres of the planned 7.8 million cubic metres of embankment fill have been carried out.
Regarding the department of structures, Uraloğlu stated that the 196-metre-high east and west pylons of the Sazlıdere Bridge have been completed. He noted that a total of 25,000 cubic metres of concrete has been poured, three viaducts have been completed, the southern deck of the Water Valley Viaduct has been finished, and cantilever construction on the northern deck is continuing.
Uraloğlu also stated that utility relocation, expropriation, and archaeological works are progressing as planned, adding, “As of today, we have achieved more than 80% physical progress across the project."
The project will Save 9 Billion Liras Annually
Uraloğlu stated that upon completion of the project, transportation to the rapidly developing residential areas of Bahçeşehir, Kayaşehir, and Başakşehir will be significantly improved. He added that traffic congestion on the TEM Motorway will be reduced and access to Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital and the Olympic Stadium will become easier.
Uraloğlu stated that the Hadımköy Industrial Zone, Deliklikaya Organized Industrial Zone, and İkitelli Organized Industrial Zone will be directly connected through a motorway link. “This will make a significant contribution to the development of industry and trade. With improved traffic flow, we will achieve annual savings of 9 billion liras, including 8.3 billion liras in travel time and 700 million liras in fuel costs. In addition, we will reduce carbon emissions by 32,000 tonnes annually," he said.
The Works are ongoing on the Sarıyer-Kilyos Tunnel
Providing information about the Sarıyer–Kilyos Tunnel Project, Minister Uraloğlu stated that the project, which is being constructed as a dual-tube tunnel approximately 7 kilometres long to divided road standards with a bituminous hot-mix asphalt pavement, has a total length of 8.2 kilometres, including its link roads.
Uraloğlu stated that the project extends from the exit of the Sarıyer–Çayırbaşı Tunnel to the Uskumruköy Modern Roundabout, which was constructed as part of the Northern Marmara Motorway. “Of the total 13,715 metres of our dual-tube tunnel, we have completed 12,400 metres, representing 90% of the overall length. We aim to complete the construction of the Sarıyer–Kilyos Tunnel by the end of this year," he said.
