Research ship launches work in Istanbul’s Bosphorus Strait for three-storey Istanbul tunnel project

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

A research ship called “Fugro Scout” launched a land survey in Istanbul’s Bosphorus Strait on July 28 for the three-storey Grand Istanbul Tunnel project, which will connect the city’s two sides with one railway and two highways.

The 84-meter-long and 20-meter-wide Fugro Scout will reportedly be in Istanbul for a long while to complete its analysis. Following its drilling works, the path that the tunnel will pass through will be finalized before construction works are launched. 

One part of the planned 6.5-kilometer tunnel will connect a high-speed subway system from the İncirli neighborhood on the European side to the Söğütlüçeşme neighborhood on the Asian side. The second part will connect a two-lane land route between Hasdal on the European side and Çamlık on the Asian side. 

The tunnel will be integrated into nine subway lines, the TEM Motorway, the E-5 Motorway and the Northern Marmara Motorway, according to officials. 

Around 6.5 million passengers are expected to use the tunnel on a daily basis once it is completed in the next five years. 

Passengers will be able to reach Söğütlüçeşme from İncirli in 40 minutes. The travel time between Hasdal and Çamlık will be reduced to 14 minutes. 

The tunnel will be the largest in the world in terms of size and capacity.

The project was launched in 2015 by then-Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.