Today, we'll talk about the Bosporus Suspension Bridges, the most famous landmarks of the magnificent city of Istanbul and an icon of beauty for Turkey. We'll detail each of the three bridges, mentioning their construction, features, and significance. Additionally, we'll answer some important questions related to this topic to give you a complete idea about Turkey's most famous symbols. Enjoy the read.
As Istanbul stretches across two continents, Asia and Europe, a waterway, the Bosporus Strait, separates them. Moving between the two parts of the city posed a significant challenge for residents, consuming a lot of time. Thus, a certain way had to be devised to link the two halves of the city and facilitate traffic for vehicles and goods. Hence, the idea of constructing the Bosporus Suspension Bridges emerged, connecting the Black Sea in the north with the Sea of Marmara in the south, starting with the first bridge, known as the July 15 Martyrs Bridge.
Subsequently, the Sultan Selim the Conqueror Bridge was built to alleviate congestion on the Bosporus Bridge, followed by the Sultan Selim the First Bridge to ease traffic on the two previous bridges. These bridges accommodate over two hundred thousand cars and buses designated for passenger transport, in addition to trucks designated for cargo transportation.
Below, we will focus on each of the Bosporus Suspension Bridges in detail.
The Bosporus Bridge is one of Istanbul's most prominent tourist attractions, a suspension bridge over the Bosporus Strait separating the Asian and European parts of Istanbul. It was inaugurated during the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey on October 30, 1973. Ranking as the ninth longest suspension bridge in the world, the bridge's name was recently changed from the Bosporus Bridge to the July 15 Martyrs Bridge following the failed coup attempt in 2016. The attempt hastened the takeover of the bridge due to its importance as Istanbul's lifeline and a link between its two sides.
The bridge's foundations were excavated in both the Beylerbeyi district on the Asian side and the Ortaköy district on the European side, giving the bridge a length of 1,560 meters, a width of 33.40 meters, and a height of 64 meters above ground level. The bridge is supported by massive pillars, reaching a height of 165 meters, with a distance of only 10 meters between each column.
The steel towers reach a height of 156 meters, supporting the bridge's deck through strong cables with a thickness of about 1 cm. The distance between the suspension towers is 1,074 meters, providing additional support. The bridge has eight pedestrian walkways, two of which are dedicated to emergencies, while the rest are for regular pedestrian traffic. It accommodates all types of ships and large vessels.
The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge was inaugurated due to the severe congestion experienced on the Bosporus Bridge. With the increasing number of cars and the dense population of Istanbul, there was a need to build a new bridge similar to the Bosporus Bridge to alleviate the pressure on it.
The bridge was named after Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, commemorating the person who conquered the city of Istanbul. It is also known as the Second Bosporus Bridge.
The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge was opened in 1988 after three years of construction. Its design was created by several foreign companies, with Turkish and Japanese companies participating in its execution alongside foreign companies. The cost at that time amounted to approximately $125 million. The bridge was inaugurated by the then-Prime Minister, Turgut Özal, whose car was the first to cross the bridge.
The second bridge of the Bosporus Suspension Bridges is located 5 km north of the July 15 Martyrs Bridge. It stretches from the Ortaköy area on the European side to the Hisarüstü area on the Asian side, with a length of 1,510 meters and a width of 39.4 meters, allowing for the passage of vehicles on four lanes each way.
The bridge features two steel towers with a height of 105 meters, separated by a distance of 1,090 meters. They are equipped with iron cables to support the bridge deck for additional reinforcement and protection.
The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge is part of the European Highway E80, also known as the Trans-European Motorway (TEM).
The Sultan Selim I Bridge, also known as Sultan Yavuz Selim Bridge, is named after Sultan Selim, the ninth Ottoman Sultan. It is also referred to as the Third Bosporus Bridge and is the longest suspension bridge in the world supported by railway tracks, serving as a masterpiece of Turkish and global architectural engineering.
The bridge was built to alleviate the traffic congestion in Istanbul, where more than 180 million vehicles pass annually. The government aimed to compel both heavy and light vehicles to divert their route to this bridge, contributing to reducing air pollution in the area and other environmental problems caused by cargo loads and emitted gases.0z
The foundation stone for Sultan Yavuz Selim Bridge was laid in 2013, and the bridge was opened in 2016 by the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, completing construction in just three years at a construction cost of $3 billion.
The bridge was designed by French engineer Michel Virlogeux, along with Swiss engineer Jean-François Klein, creating a hybrid design that combines both cable-stayed and suspension bridge elements.
The bridge stretches between the Beykoz area on the Asian side and the Sariyer area on the European side. It is the widest suspension bridge in the world, with a width of 59 meters, and its towers are the tallest in the world, reaching a height of 322 meters.
The bridge comprises ten lanes, with eight lanes designated for two-way car traffic and two lanes allocated for the high-speed train. The bridge provides a traffic service for approximately 135,000 cars per day.
The length of the bridge is approximately 2,164 meters, and the distance between the towers reaches 1,408 meters. The suspension wires and cables used are equivalent to circling the earth three times.
Many questions arise regarding the details of the Bosporus Suspension Bridges, and we will provide comprehensive answers to them in the following paragraphs.
Walking on foot is not permitted on the three bridges. However, during the Istanbul Eurasia Marathon, which is the only marathon where pedestrians cross continents, participants walk on the first Bosporus Bridge.
The nighttime lighting system was added to the Bosporus Bridge in 2007 to provide Istanbul with a magnificent view at night. The lighting starts at sunset and lasts until dawn. The computerized system controls the colorful LED lighting, adding a touch of beauty to the city. Water tours under the bridges have become a tourist attraction.
The match took place on the first Bosporus Bridge, where an intercontinental tennis match featured American player Venus Williams and Turkish player İpek Şenoğlu.
What is the significance of the Bosporus Suspension Bridges?
They hold significant economic and touristic importance as they contribute to Turkey's income, with 25% of the world's goods passing through its waterways connecting two different continents. Additionally, the area around the bridges is surrounded by several important tourist landmarks such as Dolmabahçe Palace, Ortaköy Mosque, and Beylerbeyi Palace, attracting tourists. Moreover, the area has transformed into an investment destination for various projects including restaurants, hotels, and real estate.
This concludes our article on the three Bosporus Suspension Bridges, where we have reviewed the most important information regarding the construction of these suspension bridges in Turkey, their significance, and answers to various questions about each bridge. For more details on this topic, feel free to contact us via Skyline Holdings.
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