Transportation Minister Lütfi Elvan visited the

28.10.2014
Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communications Minister
Lütfi Elvan met with the press members at the construction site of
Eurasia Tunnel
Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communications Minister Lütfi Elvan visited the
Eurasia Tunnel Project (Istanbul Strait Road Tube Crossing Project) and had breakfast with
the press members, ATAŞ executives and employees. Providing information to the press
members, Elvan stated that one third of the excavation works and approximately 40% of
the connection tunnels are completed and that the Eurasia Tunnel will be finished by the
end of the year 2016.
The works at the Eurasia Tunnel Project, contracted by the Ministry of Transportation,
Maritime Affairs and Communications Directorate General of Infrastructure Investments
(AYGM) with Build-Operate-Transfer model for providing a solution to the traffic in Istanbul
and contributing to the Istanbul Strait road crossing, continue with full pace. Transportation,
Maritime Affairs and Communications Minister Lütfi Elvan and Istanbul Governor Vasip Şahin
visited the Haydarpaşa construction site on October 28, 2014 and inspected the works. Yapı
Merkezi Holding Board Chairman Ersin Arıoğlu and ATAŞ CEO Seok Jae Seo provided
information. Minister Elvan then met with the press members, ATAŞ employees and
executives at the breakfast.
Providing information to the press members, Elvan stated that the 24-hour works continue
95 meters below the sea level. Elvan stated that 1.27 of 5.4 kilometers of the tunnel
construction under the sea level has been completed and said:
“As of today, we have completed one third of the works we have commenced in April. The
tunnel works for the transit area under the sea will be completed as of the end of 2015.
There is a tunnel of 14.6 kilometers. In addition to our current works at underground, our
works continue with cut-and-cover and classical tunnel boring methods both on the Asian
and the European sides. We have progressed by 150 meters in other tunnels. Approximately
40 percent of the connections tunnels are completed. We have progressed beyond the
target.”
"We will be able to travel with our cars by the end of 2016"
Reminding that they are aiming to complete the entire project by the end of August 2017,
Elvan said, “Yapı Merkezi Holding Board Chairman Ersin Arıoğlu has made a promise to us.
We, hopefully, will be able to travel with our cars by the end of 2016. Daily capacity of the
tunnel is 130 thousand. The guarantee we provided to the contractor company is 68
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thousand 500 vehicles. But we expect 100 thousand vehicles will use the tunnel right after
its opening. The revenue obtained will be shared as 70 percent to the contractor company
and 30 percent to our Ministry if number of vehicles is higher than the guaranteed number.”
“It will relieve the Istanbul traffic”
Elvan indicated that the project will relive the traffic of Istanbul with 3 million vehicles and
said:
“Although the number of vehicles in Istanbul has increased by 60-70 percent, there is no
increase in the number of vehicles passing from the Bosphorus Bridge and Fatih Sultan
Mehmet Bridge. The capacity is already full. Marmaray has relieved to some extent, and
Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge will also provide a relief. A significant relief will also be provided
with the opening of the Eurasia Tunnel.. We are expecting the travelers in Kadıköy-Sirkeci
route will use the tunnel intensively. We continue with our works particularly on Yenikapı
side and at the sections up to the Göztepe intersection. We are increasing the number of
lanes. The number of lanes will be increased by one, particularly at the tunnel exits. Both the
section up to the Göztepe intersection on the Asian side, and on Yenikapı side. We are
estimating a 10 percent decrease in the intensity of other bridges in Istanbul following the
opening of the Eurasia Tunnel.”
“A project making a distinguished name for itself in the world”
Stating that the Eurasia Tunnel is a project making a distinguished name for itself in the
world and has constituted a huge know-how for the Turkish construction industry, Elvan
thanked all contractor companies and employees and said, “This is a project that we should
really be proud of.” Elvan highlighted that the tunnel is resistant against any kind of
earthquake and said, “A new mechanism against seismic actions is being used in here.
Seismic gasket mechanism is created. There is a mechanism allowing the concrete structure
to break, bend, contract and expand, if required, in case of any earthquake.” Indicating that
the project will cost 1.3 billion dollars, Elvan told that the public did not pay even a cent.
Elvan also told that 5 archeologists were employed related to the works and in case of
finding any historical remains, these will be handled sensitively.
“Zero work accident” success for occupational safety
There are 1310 employees working for the Eurasia Tunnel Project. There are 91 construction
equipment used including 16 excavators, 15 cranes and 6 trucks. The occupational safety
rules are fully followed in the Eurasia Tunnel Project. The implementation of occupational
safety rules at the work areas is being supervised, and regular trainings are provided on this
matter. No work accident resulted with death or serious injury has occurred in the project to
date.
www.avrasyatuneli.com
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For more information: Zarakol İletişim 0212 217 29 99 Ayça Erkan Ergenç – 0549 783 22 22
ayca@zarakol.com.tr
About ATAŞ
Avrasya Tüneli İşletme İnşaat ve Yatırım A.Ş. (ATAŞ) was founded in 2009 for realizing the Istanbul Strait Road
Tube Crossing Project. The leading Turkish company Yapı Merkezi and the South Korean SK E&C companies are
two shareholders of ATAŞ. Yapı Merkezi is one of Turkey’s and the world’s leading construction companies
which has launched pioneer projects at universal level with its experience and knowledge of 50 years. SK E&C,
on the other hand, is the construction and engineering branch of SK Group, the third biggest group of South
Korea. Yapı Merkezi and SK E&C are world’s leading brands realizing highly successful infrastructure and
transportation projects in different regions of the world.
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