Turkish tunnel being built

The New Zigana Tunnel project in Turkey is currently under construction and is expected to cost up to US$1 billion in all. When complete this tunnel will measure an impressive 14.5km long. The two lane tunnel will connect Gumushane and Trabzon in the country’s north east, and will be located at an altitude of over 1,200m above sea level. The construction of the tunnel will replace the existing route over the Zigana Pass, which reaches an altitude above sea level of 2,032m. Once complete the new tunnel under
November 29, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The New Zigana Tunnel project in Turkey is currently under construction and is expected to cost up to US$1 billion in all. When complete this tunnel will measure an impressive 14.5km long. The two lane tunnel will connect Gumushane and Trabzon in the country’s north east, and will be located at an altitude of over 1,200m above sea level. The construction of the tunnel will replace the existing route over the Zigana Pass, which reaches an altitude above sea level of 2,032m. Once complete the new tunnel under the Pontic Mountains will cut the route by 8km and reduce journey times by around 20 minutes. The Zigana Pass is noted as a high risk route, with poor weather making it dangerous and particularly in winter periods. The new tunnel will boost safety and cut crashes. The construction of this new tunnel is expected to improve transport links for Turkey as well as for the Middle East, Iran and the Caucasus through to the Eastern Black Sea.

The existing Zigana Tunnel measures just 1.7km long and opened to traffic in 1977. It lies at an altitude of around 1,800m and is orientated in the north-south direction.
Road Structures

Related Content

  • Tunnels - an environmentally attractive option?
    February 21, 2012
    While tunnels are often more expensive than bridges, they can offer environmentally attractive options for transport schemes. Tunnels offer environmentally attractive options for a range of transport infrastructure schemes, but in many cases high construction costs may restrict their use.
    Read More
  • Bridge of international accord from Russia-China
    May 29, 2018
    A new bridge project joining China and Russia is a sign of international accord between the two nations – Mike Woof writes A new bridge spanning what China calls the Heilongjiang River and which is known as the Amur River in Russia, is a clear sign of an important international accord between the two countries. Discussions over the bridge project were first started between China and Russia in the 1980s, with both nations seeing many changes in leadership since that time. But while the political discussion
    Read More
  • Peru highway construction underway
    August 9, 2018
    Construction is underway on the new highway connecting Peru’s second city, Arequipa, with Moqeugua. The project is costing US$125.5 million and is due for completion in 2020. The work is challenging, not the least because the route runs through a mountainous area. The existing road features many switchbacks and particularly in Omate District, which can pose hazards for drivers in poor weather. The new highway aims to boost both safety and capacity, reducing dangers for users as well as cutting journey times
    Read More
  • Linking Kenya and Uganda with a new road project
    May 10, 2018
    An upgraded road link will improve transport between Uganda and Kenya - Shem Oirere reports Rainfall patterns and type of soil in an agricultural rich area shared by the neighbouring East African countries of Kenya and Uganda was a key consideration in arriving at the decision to upgrade to bitumen standards 73km of the 118km Kapchorwa-Kitale road that links the two countries. Initially, Uganda had proposed to have the road between Kapchorwa and Suam on its border with Kenya re-gravelled and widened to a
    Read More

Highlighted Content