Name and Location
Eurasia tunnel project, Asia and Europe.

Client
The Turkey Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications and General Directorate of Infrastructure Investments (AYGM) commissioned Avrasya Tüneli İşletme İnşaat ve Yatırım (ATAŞ) for the design, construction and operation of the Eurasia tunnel project.

Project Description
The project will connect the Asian and European sides through a highway tunnel underneath the seabed.

The tunnel will serve the Kazlıçeşme-Göztepe route, where vehicle traffic is most intense in Istanbul, and will cover a total of 14.6 km.
The tunnel construction will start on the Anatolian side and will be completed on the European side, after about 25 m have been dug under the seabed using a tunnel-boring machine.

While 5.4 km of the project will comprise a two-storey tunnel to be built underneath the seabed using special technology with connecting tunnels to be constructed using other methods, road expansion and improvement works will be carried out on 9.2 km on the European and Asian sides. The access roads between Sarayburnu-Kazlıçeşme and Harem-Göztepe will be enlarged.

Vehicle underpasses and pedestrian overpasses will be built.

Tunnel pass and road improvement-expansion works will relieve traffic congestion.

Travel time on the route will decrease from 100 minutes to 15 minutes.

It will also contribute to the reduction of environmental and noise pollution.

Value
$1.25-billion.

Duration
Construction started in February 2013 and operation is expected to start in 2017.

Latest Developments
The AYGM has commissioned ATAŞ for the design, construction and operation of the Eurasian tunnel project for 24 years and five months.

Completion of the tunnel-boring machine excavation is expected in July.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
ATAŞ (design, construction and operation of the tunnel).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
ATAŞ, tel +90 216 474 05 20, fax +90 216 474 05 24 or email info@avrasyatuneli.com.