Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that his government is planning to implement a giant project in Istanbul called the “Istanbul Grand Tunnel Project” to be the third tunnel linking the two parts of the Bosphorus Strait under the sea.
Erdogan’s announcement came at an election rally that included the opening of the first phase of the “People’s Park” at the site of Ataturk Airport, and was attended by at least 1.7 million people.
He said, “This project will be the third tunnel to pass under the Bosphorus after the (Marmaray) and (Eurasia) tunnels,” indicating that the project includes 11 railway lines that are used daily by 6.5 million people.
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The Istanbul Grand Tunnel is a mixed tunnel project that includes 3 floors, passing under the Bosphorus Strait, with a length of 6.5 km, ensuring movement between the European and Asian parts of Istanbul through road and rail tracks.
The Turkish president drew attention to the giant transportation projects during the governments of the Justice and Development Party in the country, including the “Yavuz Selim” bridge, the third bridge that connects the two parts of Istanbul and was opened in 2016 after the “Martyrs of July 15” and “Mehmed Al-Fatih” bridges.
Also, the Osman Ghazi Bridge on the Sea of Marmara connects the states of Kocaeli and Yalova on the path of the cities of Istanbul and Izmir, and it opened in 2016 as well.
According to Erdogan, his governments also completed the “Eurasia” tunnel, which passes under the Bosphorus Strait for the passage of cars, and opened in 2011, in addition to the “Marmaray” railway tunnel, which opened in 2013.
He added, “Now we will implement the Istanbul Grand Tunnel project.”
And reiterating his emphasis on the importance of Istanbul voters in the elections, Erdogan made it clear that he would deliver a “honorary speech” in front of his supporters on the evening of May 14 – after winning the elections – in Istanbul.
