01.06.2026 19:10
Work on the massive Southern Ring Road project, which will completely ease urban and transit traffic in Trabzon and has been on the city's agenda for about 30 years, continues at full speed. In the project, where machinery operates simultaneously in 7 separate tube tunnels, the countdown has accelerated for the 16-kilometer first phase starting from Akçaabat Mersin Mahallesi.
Construction continues on the Southern Ring Road Project, which will radically transform Trabzon's transportation infrastructure.
SIMULTANEOUS MANUFACTURING AT 7 DIFFERENT POINTS The Southern Ring Road, which will significantly reduce traffic congestion, especially in the Akçaabat city crossings of the Black Sea Coastal Road, will create an alternative route and divert transit traffic outside Akçaabat city center. In this respect, both time savings will be achieved and the quality of urban life will increase significantly. While intensive work is being carried out on the field, manufacturing continues simultaneously at 7 different points.
“WE WILL PUT IT INTO SERVICE AFTER 3 YEARS” In his assessment on the subject, Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç stated that the Southern Ring Road has been discussed for 30 years, saying, "Hopefully, if everything goes well, we will put the 16.5-kilometer section concerning Akçaabat into service after 3 years. Current work indicates this."
Noting that the Southern Ring Road concerns the city from two aspects, Genç said, "The Southern Ring Road, with its two aspects, closely concerns our city. One of them is transit traffic. Currently, we have a highway on the east-west axis, which is our coastal road. When any problem occurs there, traffic completely locks up. Therefore, this issue has been on our city's agenda for a long time. We brought it to Ankara. On May 1, 2023, the Southern Ring Road officially started from Akçakale. Currently, the Southern Ring Road is a 48-kilometer belt road starting from Akçakale and extending to Araklı. It concerns us closely both as a transit road and from an urban planning perspective. Because we see that Trabzon is constantly squeezed into the coastal strip. Therefore, it is also a valuable work in terms of moving the city southward. The first phase is the 16.5-kilometer section initiated between Akçakale and Yıldızlı. This is where active work continues. In this section, simultaneous work continues in seven tube tunnels. Hopefully, if everything goes well, we will put this 16.5-kilometer section concerning Akçaabat into service after three years," he said.
“IT WAS A PROJECT THE CITY HAD BEEN DISCUSSING FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS” Reminding that while work continues, the project and planning studies for the second major main phase, which will start from Ortahisar and continue to Araklı, are also ongoing simultaneously, Genç said, "Our preparations on that matter are complete. Hopefully, the construction work will also begin. We find this very important. Hopefully, when completed, I believe it will be a project that will greatly serve both our Trabzon in terms of transit route and urban planning. The work is not limited to tunnels. While simultaneous work continues in seven tube tunnels, viaduct works in open areas are also ongoing. Viaduct works are being carried out simultaneously in the Yıldızlı region, the valley in the Akçaköy region, and the Adacık Valley on the Düzköy road. It was a project the city had been discussing for about 30 years. Hopefully, it will come to life in this period," he said.