30.12.2025 16:37
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, who conducted inspections at the Istanbul Sarıyer-Kilyos Tunnel Construction, stated, "Thanks to our project, we will reduce the travel time from 35 minutes to just 5 minutes. With the project, which will be completed in 2026, we will save a total of 3.3 billion lira annually, including 2.8 billion lira in time savings and 500 million lira in fuel costs. We will also contribute to the protection of nature by reducing carbon emissions from vehicles that harm the environment by 32,000 tons."
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu inspected the construction of the Sarıyer-Kilyos Tunnel. During the inspection, Minister Uraloğlu was accompanied by Istanbul Governor Davut Gül and General Director of Highways Ahmet Gülşen. While touring the tunnel, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu made statements to the press.
"I CONDEMN THIS COWARDLY ATTACK AND ALL FORMS OF TERRORISM" Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated, "First of all, I wish God's mercy upon our heroic police officers who were martyred during the operation against the ISIS terrorist organization in Yalova, and I wish a speedy recovery to our injured security forces. I condemn this cowardly attack and all forms of terrorism in the strongest terms. Our state will certainly continue its determined struggle against such actions that threaten the unity, solidarity, and peace of our esteemed nation," he said.
"THE COMPLETION OF OUR PROJECT WILL RELIEVE TRAFFIC ON THE TEM HIGHWAY" Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said, "We received information about the final stage of our Sarıyer-Kilyos Tunnel and Connection Road project, which is one of the most important highway projects that will fundamentally change transportation in the north of our Istanbul and strengthen the city's transportation infrastructure. As is known, we started the construction works of the Sarıyer-Kilyos Tunnel Project in May 2022. Our project, which is approximately 7 kilometers long, consists of 2 lanes in each direction, a total of 4 lanes, and is constructed as a double-tube road with a hot mix asphalt surface standard, has a total length of 8.2 kilometers including the connection roads. Our project starts from the exit of the Sarıyer-Çayırbaşı Tunnel and ends at the Uskumruköy Modern Roundabout, which is built within the North Marmara Highway. Within the scope of our project, we are also constructing a total of 2 overpass junctions, 1 viaduct, 2 Open-Close structures, and 1 culvert at the Sarıyer Junction and Kilyos Junction. To complete the construction of our tunnel as soon as possible, we are continuing our work simultaneously using both the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) and Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) methods. We are using both methods. As you may recall, we started working with TBM in December last year. Thus, we have completed approximately 76% of the tunnel, which has a total double-tube length of 13,715 meters, with 10,374 meters completed. Currently, we are continuing our work with 191 machines/equipment and 914 personnel. God willing, we are working 24/7 with the goal of completing the construction of our Sarıyer Kilyos tunnel within 2026. With our project, the most crowded and vibrant business and finance centers of Istanbul, such as Maslak, Levent, Beşiktaş, and Büyükdere Avenue, will be directly connected to the North Marmara Highway through the Sarıyer-Çayırbaşı Tunnel and the immediately following Sarıyer-Kilyos Tunnel, accelerating and strengthening the connection between Istanbul Airport and Istanbul's business centers. Moreover, residents of neighborhoods such as Kilyos, Demirciköy, Uskumruköy, Gümüşdere, Zekeriyaköy, and Kısırkaya located in the north of Istanbul will be able to easily access the central areas of Istanbul through the tunnels. Most importantly, in the event of a major disaster, quick access to the North Marmara Highway, which is considered the emergency aid and evacuation route of Istanbul, will also be established," he said.
"WE WILL REDUCE THE TRAVEL TIME FROM 35 MINUTES TO 5 MINUTES" Minister Uraloğlu stated, "Thanks to our project, we will reduce the travel time from 35 minutes to just 5 minutes. Thus, we will save a total of 3.3 billion lira annually, including 2.8 billion lira from time and 500 million lira from fuel. We will also significantly contribute to the protection of nature and our straits by reducing the carbon emissions of vehicles that harm the environment by 32,000 tons. As can be seen, our Sarıyer-Kilyos Tunnel is strategically important in terms of integration with both the North Marmara Highway and Istanbul Airport. Here, I would like to briefly mention the eighth section, the Nakkaş-Başakşehir Section, which is rapidly under construction and constitutes the last part of our North Marmara Highway, which significantly alleviates Istanbul traffic. As you know, the Nakkaş-Başakşehir Section is a total of 45 kilometers long, with 24.2 kilometers being the main body and 20.8 kilometers being the connection road. The project route starts from the Nakkaş Junction, which was completed as part of the North Marmara Highway Kınalı-Odayeri project, and continues eastward, passing north of the settlements of Yeşilbayır, Deliklikaya, and Hadımköy, and then continues with the Sazlıdere Bridge, which we built south of the Sazlıdere Dam. It ends by connecting to the Başakşehir Junction of the North Marmara Highway. With the completion of our project, we will facilitate traffic relief on the TEM Highway and ease access to Başakşehir Çam Sakura City Hospital and the Olympic Stadium. Of course, we continue our work in all modes of transportation in Istanbul. We are continuing our construction works in our Halkalı-Istanbul Airport line's Halkalı-Arnavutköy section and the Altunizade-Çamlıca Mosque-Bosna Boulevard projects, which we inspected just yesterday. We are nearing the end of the Halkalı-Arnavutköy metro. God willing, we will open it for service in the first months of 2026, completing one of the longest metros in the world, measuring 69 kilometers. We are also continuing the construction of our Halkalı-Kapıkule high-speed train project. With the railway connection we will establish over the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, we will have an alternative double-track railway line over the Bosphorus to Marmaray, and our country's position in international freight transportation will be further strengthened. We have completed the project for this new railway connection, which will start from Gebze and continue to Halkalı. We have reached the final stage in securing nearly 6 billion dollars in loans with the participation of many financial institutions led by the World Bank," he stated.
"WE SET A RECORD OF 34 METERS IN ONE DAY" While answering questions from journalists in the tunnel, Minister Uraloğlu said, "The structure you see behind me is about 100-110 meters long."
In 12-12.5 months, the machine will have excavated 5 kilometers of tunnel. It is truly valuable. On average, we excavate 15-17 meters in a day, but we set a record of 34 meters in one day. There is no known record higher than this in the world. Look, a machine excavated 34 meters, supported the ground with segments, and we continue on our way. On the other side, we are also continuing with the excavation method using machines called NAT. God willing, before the end of next year, we will have reduced the travel time from Kilyos to Sarıyer, which currently takes 35 minutes, to just 5 minutes. And God forbid, in extraordinary situations, during an earthquake, we will have ensured that both emergency aid entrances, intervention teams, rescue teams, and the possible evacuation of Istanbul can directly reach the main artery like North Marmara," he said.