Thanks to the Ilgaz Tunnel, the state has saved billions of lira.

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated that 10 million 19 thousand vehicles have used the Ilgaz 15 July Independence Tunnel since its opening date, and he expressed, "With the tunnel, we have saved a total of 2.5 billion lira in fuel and time over 8 years."

Uraloğlu recalled in a written statement that they opened the mentioned tunnel on December 26, 2016. He pointed out that the tunnel has provided fast and safe transportation in the Ilgaz Mountain, connecting Central Anatolia and the Western Black Sea for 8 years, and shared the following information: The tunnel is one of the most important transportation projects implemented in Turkey. With the double-tube tunnel we built in Ilgaz Mountain, measuring 5,488 meters and 5,480 meters, we shortened the 17-kilometer Ilgaz Mountain crossing, which previously took 34 minutes, to 8 minutes, and reduced the journey between Kastamonu and Çankırı, which took 2.5 hours, to 1.5 hours. The Ilgaz 15 July Independence Tunnel, which we put into service on a route that is critical to our country's transportation network, has been used by 1 million 473 thousand vehicles in 2024 and a total of 10 million 19 thousand vehicles since its opening date.

ILGAZ MOUNTAIN HAS CEASED TO BE A NIGHTMARE FOR DRIVERS

Uraloğlu emphasized that the Ilgaz Mountain, which is 1,875 meters high and often in the news for traffic accidents, has ceased to be a nightmare for drivers thanks to the tunnel, stating that the difficulties drivers faced on this route before the tunnel's operation have become a thing of the past.

Uraloğlu noted that they provided high-standard and safe transportation by lowering the old road elevation from 1,850 meters to 1,390 meters.

Highlighting that they have reduced carbon emissions that harm the environment by 37 thousand tons with the Ilgaz 15 July Independence Tunnel, Uraloğlu stated, "With the tunnel, we have saved a total of 2.5 billion lira in fuel and time over 8 years."