Minister Uraloğlu: With the roads, tunnels, and bridges we have built, we provide an economic benefit of 197 billion lira annually.

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Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated, "With the divided roads, tunnels, and bridges we have built, our traveling citizens save approximately 739 million hours of time and about 2 billion 437 million liters of fuel annually. Thanks to these structures, we provide an annual total economic benefit of approximately 197 billion 492 million lira, including about 113 billion 870 million lira in labor savings and approximately 83 billion 622 million lira from fuel savings."

THE HISTORICAL SILK ROAD IS REVIVING

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu attended the opening ceremony of the Aşık Şenlik Tunnel and Connection Road in Ardahan. Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Uraloğlu emphasized that the Mozeret Pass is not only a transportation route but also holds great importance in shaping the historical, cultural, and economic fabric of the region. He stated that this pass, located on the Silk Road, has been a scene of interaction between different cultures for centuries, with trade caravans, migrating nations, and armies passing through it, changing the course of history. Uraloğlu said, "The historical remains around the pass carry the traces of this rich past to the present. Therefore, the preservation, development, and transfer of the Mozeret Pass to future generations are of great importance for the sustainable development of the region. In this context, with the construction of the Aşık Şenlik Tunnel and our connection road, we have taken a significant step to strengthen the transportation infrastructure of the Mozeret Pass and for the economic and social development of the region. By naming the tunnel after the great bard Aşık Şenlik, who was raised in Ardahan, we have also embraced the region's cultural heritage," he said.

"WE HAVE PROVIDED HIGH-STANDARD TRANSPORTATION TO GEORGIA"

Minister Uraloğlu noted that they completed the 16.3-kilometer Çıldır-Aktaş road, which provides access to the Aktaş Border Gate between Turkey and Georgia, with a hot mix asphalt divided road standard, which includes the Aşık Şenlik Tunnel. He stated, "We also passed through the Mozeret Pass, which is at an altitude of 2,159 meters, with the Aşık Şenlik Tunnel, which we built as a double-tube structure with a length of 2,308 meters. Additionally, we constructed the 53-meter-long Çıldır Bridge and 6 at-grade intersections as part of the project. With the Aşık Şenlik Tunnel, we have provided high-standard transportation to the Aktaş Border Gate and Georgia through Ardahan and the Çıldır district of Eastern Anatolia. We bypassed the sharp turns in the Mozeret Pass, which experiences severe winter conditions. By lowering the road elevation by 209 meters, we minimized the problems faced by drivers using this route, eliminating 14 sharp turns and maximizing safety," he said.

Uraloğlu stated that they shortened the route by 4 kilometers, reducing travel time from 35 minutes to 10 minutes, thus achieving an annual total savings of 113.5 million lira, including 84.2 million lira from time and 29.3 million lira from fuel.

3-METER HIGH NOISE BARRIER

Minister Uraloğlu continued his speech: "We will contribute to the protection of Ardahan's unique nature by reducing the carbon emissions of vehicles that harm the environment by 2,042 tons. In this project, we also have a very special work that demonstrates our sensitivity to nature. We are installing a noise barrier with a total length of 2,660 meters and a height of 3 meters in the section of the Çıldır-Aktaş Border Gate road that passes near Lake Aktaş. With the noise barrier, we will prevent the natural life in the lake, which is home to 42 bird species and is the only breeding site for some species in Turkey, from being affected by transportation. Thus, we will also contribute to the preservation of wildlife and biodiversity in this region. This tunnel has been a breath of fresh air for a region where transportation has been difficult during winter for centuries, instilling hope in the hearts of the local people and serving as a bridge between Ardahan's past and future. Now, the harsh winter conditions will not adversely affect our people's daily lives, trade in the region will flourish, tourism will develop; every vehicle passing through our tunnel will add another brick to the region's development. This tunnel has eliminated Ardahan's geographical isolation, bringing the region closer to Turkey and the world. Now, Ardahan has become a place that attracts attention not only for its natural beauty but also for its ease of transportation."

2 BILLION 437 MILLION LITERS SAVED

Minister Uraloğlu stated that until 2002, only 50 kilometers of tunnels were built in Turkey over a period of approximately 80 years, and in the last 22 years, this length has increased to 767 kilometers. He said, "From where to where? Similarly, our total bridge length, which was 311 kilometers, has reached 790 kilometers. With the divided roads, tunnels, and bridges we have built, our traveling citizens save approximately 739 million hours of time and about 2 billion 437 million liters of fuel annually. Thanks to these structures, we provide an annual total economic benefit of approximately 197 billion 492 million lira, including about 113 billion 870 million lira in labor savings and approximately 83 billion 622 million lira from fuel savings."

After the speeches, Minister Uraloğlu and his companions cut the opening ribbon.