DALLIKAVAK TUNNEL: A NEW MILESTONE IN REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
The Dallıkavak Tunnel, which strengthen transport infrastructure between Eastern Anatolia, particularly Erzurum, and the Black Sea Region, and the Dadaşkent-Yıldızkent New Generation Intersection, which will enhance urban transport comfort, were officially opened at a ceremony attended by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu and Director General of Highways Ahmet Gülşen.
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Tunnels will account for 43 kilometres of the 196-kilometre route
Emphasizing that tunnels are not merely transportation structures that cross mountains but also make significant contributions to production, trade, tourism and employement, Uraloğlu stated that they were proud to open Dallıkavak Tunnel and its connection roads, constructed along the North-south axis connecting Erzurum to Rize, to traffic. Providing information on the tunnel projects in the region, Uraloğlu noted that 9 tunnels were under construction and 8 tunnels had been completed. He further stated that 43 kilometres of the planned 196-kilometres road route would consist of tunnels.
Uraloğlu noted that Dallıkavak Pass, with an elevation of 2,349 metres and harsh winter conditions, poses for drivers. He stated that they had completed and opened the first 9-kilometers section, including the Dallıkavak Tunnel and its connection roads, to traffic. Minister Uraloğlu also stated that the Dallıkavak Tunnel Project serves as a continuation and complement to the Ovit Tunnel, which was opened to traffic in 2018, and the Kırık Tunnel, which is currently under construction.
Uraloğlu stated that the Dallıkavak Tunnel, consisting of twin tubes each 3,105 metres long, and its connection roads have completely eliminated Dallıkavak Pass and eight sharp bends. He stated that, “We have lowered the route by 190 metres. Drivers will now use a more sheltered alignment instead of the summit, where snow and ice are most intense. We have replaced blizzards, icing and harsh winds with the bright, dry and safe passage provided by our tunnel."
Uraloğlu stated that the Dallıkavak Tunnel had shortened the route by 4.5 kilometres and reduced travel time along this section from 20 minutes to 5 minutes. Noting that the project would generate annual savings of 103 million lira in total, Uraloğlu added that carbon emissions would also be reduced by 1,334 tonnes per year. Referring to the Dadaşkent-Yıldızkent New Generation Intersection, implemented in Erzurum city centre, Uraloğlu stated that the intersection project would generate savings of 137 million lira.
Safe,Comfortable, Sustainable and Uninterrupted Transportation
Speaking at the ceremony, Director General of Highways Ahmet Gülşen stated that the Dallıkavak Tunnel, constructed on the Erzurum-Rize Road, consist of twin tubes each 3,105 metres long, and announced that additional 5.9-kilometers section of divided road with bitumious hot mix pavement outside the tunnel had also been opened tor traffic.
Gülşen stated that another investment put into service was the Dadaşkent-Yıldızkent New Generation Intersection, noting that the main section of the project, constructed to the standard of a divided road with a bituminous hot-mix surface, is 1,000 metres long, while the intersection ramps are 1,400 metres long.
Gülşen stated that as General directorate of Highway, they had built tunnels that cross mountains and intersection that regulate traffic flow in cities, adding that they continued their investments resolutely to ensure safe, comfortable, sustainable and uninterrupted transportation.
Erzurum Intelligent Transportation Systems Centre commissioned
Following the opening ceremony held in Dallıkavak Tunnel area, the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Centre, established within the 12th Regional Directorate of the General Directorate of Highways (KGM) as part of KGM's ITS initiatives aimed at enhancing traffic safety across the road network, making more efficient use of road capacity and ensuring uninterrupted transportation, was also commissioned by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu.
Aiming to establish an integrated system for monitoring and managing the highway network using the latest technologies, KGM planned to set up an Intelligent Transportation Systems Centre in each of its 17 Regional Directorates, as well as a Main Intelligent Transportation Systems Centre to which all regional centres would be connected. Following the Main ITS Centre at the General Directorate's headquarters and the centres at the Antalya and Van Regional Directorates, the Erzurum ITS Centre has also been completed and put into service.
Located within the campus of the 12th Regional Directorate in Erzurum, the centre will operate in a 3,316-square-metre building. Constructed as a multi-purpose facility, the building will house not only the Intelligent Transportation Systems Centre but also the 122nd (Central) Branch Office, the Tunnel Operations Office and the Traffic Chief Engineering Office.
13 tunnels can be monitored from the centre
With the commissioning of the centre, an important capability has been established to enhance the operational safety of tunnels under the responsibility of the Erzurum Regional Directorate and ensure their continuous monitoring. Currently, the Dallıkavak, İspir, Güllübağ and Pirinkayalar tunnels located along the Erzurum-Rize, İspir-Yusufeli and Erzurum-Artvin routes can be monitored from the centre.
In addition to the Arkun-1, Arkun-2, Özbağ-1, Özbağ-2 and Özlüce tunnels, which lack fibre-optic infrastructure, the Kırık, Kop, Çirişli and Olur tunnels, which are currently under construction, are also planned to be integrated into the system following the completion of the necessary infrastructure works, with the aim of centrally monitoring a total of 13 tunnels. This will enable more effective monitoring of operational conditions in the tunnels and faster response to potential risks and emergencies.
276 cameras and 151 vehicles to be monitored from the centre
The centre will enable the simultaneous monitoring of footage from a total of 276 cameras located across the Erzurum Regional Directorate campus, branch offices and Highway Inspection Stations. This will facilitate the monitoring of current conditions on roads and at facilities, the coordination of field operations and the acceleration of necessary interventions.
So as to ensure safe and uninterrupted transportation, especially in winter conditions, road and wheather conditions at the Tepebaşı, Sac Mountain and Kop Mountain passes will be monitored via cameras. Then again, by monitoring the locations of 151 vehicles via the Vehicle Tracking System, the movements of snow and ice control teams in the field will be evaluated and the deployment of vehicles to locations where they are needed and the coordinated execution of operations will be facilitated.
Traffic flow at the intersection will be monitored in real time
It will also be possible to monitor intersections with high traffic volumes and fully adaptive traffic signalisation systems through the centre, such as Dadaşkent-Yıldızkent, Ağrı Hospital, Valilik Önü and Ali Ravi intersections. By assessing traffic flow at these intersections and supporting intervention processes based on traffic density, the aim is to ensure more efficient use of the existing road capacity.
Thanks to the Erzurum Intelligent Transportation Systems Centre, centralised monitoring and coordination have been enabled across a wide range of operations, from tunnels and intersections to inspection stations and snow-fighting activities carried out under winter conditions. The Centre will contribute to the faster assessment of on-site developments, the effective management of teams and vehicles, and the provision of safer, uninterrupted and more comfortable transportation services for road users.
