Istanbul to get new underwater tunnel by 2015

A new underwater tunnel being created in Istanbul, Turkey will dramatically reduce journey times between two sides of the mega city. The €957.34 million Avrasya Tunnel (Eurasia Tunnel) will connect Kazlicesme on the European side to Goztepe in the Anatolian side via a 15 minute car journey which currently takes around 100 minutes. Situated around 106 metres underwater, the Avrasya Tunnel will be the world's sixth biggest tunnel. It will be based on two storeys of two lanes each, and will be used by aroun
November 8, 2013 Read time: 2 mins
A new underwater tunnel being created in Istanbul, Turkey will dramatically reduce journey times between two sides of the mega city.

The €957.34 million Avrasya Tunnel (Eurasia Tunnel) will connect Kazlicesme on the European side to Goztepe in the Anatolian side via a 15 minute car journey which currently takes around 100 minutes.

Situated around 106 metres underwater, the Avrasya Tunnel will be the world's sixth biggest tunnel. It will be based on two storeys of two lanes each, and will be used by around 100,000 light vehicles per day. The tunnel is being set up by Turkey-based Avrasya Tuneli Isletme Insaat ve Yatirim (ATAS), a joint venture founded for the project by Turkish construction company 7010 Yapi Merkezi Insaat ve Sanayi and the South Korean SK Engineering and Construction.

Set to open by 2015, the Avrasya Tunnel will be operated by ATAS for 26 years. The tunnel's toll price is expected to be around €2.95 per way.
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