The 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, which was inaugurated by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum of South Korea on the occasion of the 107th anniversary of March 18 Çanakkale Naval Victory, will play a strategic role in global trade.
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu provided information about the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, which was inaugurated by President Erdoğan and Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum of South Korea, and said that, with the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge project, Türkiye has taken another step toward becoming one of the world's leading countries in terms of investment, industry, exports, and jobs.
Minister Karaismailoğlu noted that the completion of the motorway and bridge would boost transportation, manufacturing, industry, commerce, tourism and service sectors in the Thrace, Western Anatolia, and the Aegean, as well as the Western Mediterranean region, and continued:
"This Project will contribute to the seamless trade route stretching from Beijing to London. This motorway shortened the distance by 40 kilometres compared to the current route. Crossing the Çanakkale Strait, which previously took hours by ferry, now takes only 6 minutes. The project was completed one and a half years ago as a result of the remarkable success in construction. This single project is sufficient to demonstrate to the globe the benefits of build-operate-transfer initiatives achieved through public-private sector collaboration."
Minister Karaismailoğlu also highlighted their goals in transportation and infrastructure, and said:
"Our goal is to establish a safe, economic, comfortable, environmentally-friendly, seamless, balanced, smart and sustainable transportation system that contributes to our country’s competitiveness and people’s quality of life. The outlook of the new Türkiye we aim for has become much clearer. We have an ambitious, novel and effective process that is based on dynamics of the development, mobility, digitalization, and logistics that aspires to integrate the world into this region, and we manage this process successfully for every mode of transportation under your leadership. The 1915 Çanakkale Bridge will inspire new technical leaps both in our country and the rest of the world.
Importance of the Project
Presidency’s Directorate of Communications stated that €2 billion 545 million was invested in the projects “1915 Çanakkale Bridge” and “Malkara-Çanakkale Motorway”.
The consortium formed by Limak and Yapı Merkezi from Türkiye with South Korean companies DL E&C and SK ecoplant, won the tender held on January 26, 2017 for a period of 16 years 2 months 12 days.
In addition to the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, 2 approach viaducts, 2 reinforced concrete viaducts, 12 crossovers, 43 overpasses, one of which is ecological, 40 underpasses, 236 culverts of various sizes, 12 intersections, 4 motorway service facilities, 2 maintenance operation centres and 5 toll collection stations were also built as part of the Project.
With the completion of the road that will connect the Marmara Region and the North Aegean region together with the bridge, seamless access will be provided from Europe to the southwest of Türkiye, as well as to industrial regions such as Izmir and Aydın.
Fortification against earthquake risk
Steel piles have been erected to strengthen the tower foundations in the event of an earthquake, and a submerged caisson type foundation located on the ground has been chosen.
The most adverse wind impacts have been considered throughout the bridge's construction, and it has been built to withstand an earthquake in light of the region's seismic risk.
Before the main tower caisson was submerged into the water, foundation improvement was made in the seabed.
Measures taken for marine species
In addition to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the project included an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) done in accordance with international standards.
As part of the consultation process with the public and stakeholders, seven ESIA briefing meetings with over 1000 participants have been held; opinions on the ESIA Report have been gathered from more than 10 institutions; stakeholders have been informed via posters, brochures, newspaper advertisements, and the Expropriation Information Guide.
Marine species research conducted as part of ESIA revealed that pile driving operations in the foundations of the bridge towers may have a negative impact on some dolphin species migrating through the Çanakkale Strait, and suitable mitigation measures have been taken.
After it was determined that the Pinna Nobilis, a mussel species under protection in the Mediterranean, could be harmed, a coordinated effort with the Çanakkale 18 Mart University resulted in the relocation of over 1000 Pinna Nobilis to neighbouring safe zones.
Pile driving operations were stopped 5 times due to the passages of dolphins and a total pause of more than two hours was given to allow time for the dolphins’ passage.
Five new trees being planted for every tree impacted
A commitment has been made to plant 5 new trees for every tree impacted during the course of the project. Efforts are underway in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Seeds of endemic plants along the project route have been collected and preserved.
Seeds collected will later be registered with the Turkish Seed Gene Bank and efforts will also be made to ensure their proliferation throughout the region.
The project to contribute €2.44 billion to national income
With the 1915 Çanakkale Project, motorway integration in the Marmara region will be completed. Transportation in the region will thus be improved, and its connectivity to international corridors will also be strengthened.
All of these developments will have direct, indirect and triggering effects on a wide range of economic activities across the region and the country. The economic impact analysis reveals that the project will contribute €2.44 billion to national income and €5.4 billion to production. Moreover, the project is expected to provide jobs to 118 thousand 209 individuals on a yearly basis.
With the bridge, crossing the Çanakkale Strait will take only 6 minutes, resulting in significant annual savings in time, fuel and carbon emission. Total annual savings will amount to €415 million, including €382 million in time savings, €31.3 million in fuel savings, and €1.9 million in environmental savings. The project was completed 1.5 years ahead of schedule, resulting in an economic benefit of €622.5 million.
The project to boost domestic and international tourism
The project's completion will enable the achievement of a significant goal under Vision 2023. Motorway integration in Türkiye’s west will be ensured, and a critical component of the One Belt, One Road Project will be accomplished.
It will offer a new alternative to the İstanbul Strait. Industrial, commercial, and service sectors in the Thrace and Western Anatolia will be bolstered.
The project will boost domestic and international tourism. Commercial relations as well as cultural interactions with the European countries, the Balkans and Bulgaria will be impacted positively.