Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Uraloğlu announced that they brought a total of 2024 machines and equipment to the highways in 628. Emphasizing that the renewal value of the KGM machinery fleet increased to 718,2 million dollars with the latest purchases, Minister Uraloğlu said, “Our highways are now in service with a total of 14 machines and equipment.” Uraloğlu also reported that snow removal efforts will be carried out through 607 centers with 452 machines and equipment and 12 personnel.
Minister Uraloğlu, who ran at the General Directorate of Highways (KGM) Machine Delivery Ceremony, said, “Although snowfall in winter is the subject of beautiful images that can be carried on postcards and adorn nature with a white cover, it is a fact that it makes our daily lives, especially transportation, difficult. At this point, we are developing the service fleet with new snow-fighting and road maintenance service vehicles in order to further strengthen our fight against difficult winter conditions.”
Minister Uraloğlu noted that KGM always strives to provide high service standards and said, “Under the leadership of our President, we have opened the doors of a new era in highways in the last 22 years. We have equipped our country with a high standard road network from east to west, north to south.”
“We Crossed High Mountains with Tunnels”
Uraloğlu, recalling that only 2002 provinces were connected to each other with a divided road network of 6 kilometers in length in 101, said, “We increased our road network by approximately 6 times to 5 kilometers and connected 29 provinces with divided roads. We increased the length of our highways from 653 kilometers to 77 kilometers. We also increased the length of our BSK-covered roads from 714 kilometers to 3 kilometers. We crossed high mountains with tunnels and deep valleys with bridges and viaducts.”
“It is very important that the roads remain open to traffic”
Minister Uraloğlu, who gave the information that they have increased the total length to 479 kilometers with the construction of 790 kilometers of bridges and viaducts, also shared the information that they have increased the total length of the tunnel to 717 kilometers with the construction of 767 kilometers of tunnels. Uraloğlu said, “However, it is very important that these roads and structures remain open to traffic safely, as well as opening these roads and building tunnels and bridges.”
Stating that the length of divided roads constitutes 43 percent of the total road network, Uraloğlu continued his words as follows:
“Divided roads serve approximately 83 percent of the traffic moving on our entire road network. Thankfully, with the investments we have made, we see a 100 percent decrease in the number of people who lose their lives in traffic accidents per 77 million vehicle-km.”
Intelligent Transportation Systems Make Road Maintenance Services Easier
Uraloğlu stated that in addition to building roads that comply with international standards and provide maximum driving comfort and traffic safety, they also facilitate the implementation of road maintenance and operation services with smart transportation systems by utilizing the latest technological opportunities and vehicles of the age.
Uraloğlu, who drew attention to the fact that while developing the highway infrastructure, they did not ignore that the vehicles using these roads are in traffic day and night, 365 days a year, regardless of snow or winter, said, “We both perform the necessary maintenance for our roads to provide safe service and strive to ensure that they remain open despite snow, winter and storms. For this reason, we strengthen our machinery fleet by purchasing new machinery and equipment every year. We have started extensive renovation works in our machinery fleet, especially since 2016.”
“We Reduced the Average Age of Our Machinery Park to 10,2 Years”
Uraloğlu emphasized that they added constantly needed machinery and equipment to the KGM inventory for snow removal and road maintenance, and said, “While the average age of our machinery fleet was 2002 in 18,1, we reduced this rate to 10,2 with our new purchases. At the same time, we reduced the rate of machinery that is 21 years old and over and has completed its economic life from 57 percent to 16.9 percent. With the latest purchases, we have renewed 2016 percent of our machinery fleet by purchasing 7 pieces of machinery and equipment since 157.”
“We Provided 628 Machinery and Equipment to the Highways”
Uraloğlu stated that they provided a total of 2024 machines and equipment, including 1 machines and 516 pieces of equipment, which are vital for 43 types of road maintenance and snow removal activities such as excavators, vacuum sweepers, tractors, trenchers and loaders, for the highways in 344 at a cost of 284 billion 628 million liras. Sharing information about the KGM fleet, Minister Uraloğlu continued his words as follows:
“85 percent of these purchased machines and equipment are domestically manufactured. With these purchases, the total replacement value of our machine park has increased to 718,2 million dollars. With these latest purchases, our highways are now providing service with a total of 5 machines and equipment, 598 of which are mobile machines.”
Winter Preparations Complete
Minister Uraloğlu stated that the snow removal and road maintenance vehicles added to the inventory today added strength to the fleet and said, “Our citizens can rest assured. Our winter preparations are complete. Our highway teams will continue their snow and ice removal efforts so that our citizens can travel in a comfortable and traffic-safe environment. These efforts will be carried out on the 68 km road network across the country; through 549 snow removal centers, with 452 machines and equipment and 12 personnel.”
926 Kilometers of Snow Shields Built
Uraloğlu, who stated that 738 thousand tons of salt, 422 thousand cubic meters of salt aggregate and 11 thousand 576 tons of salt solution for critical sections were stored in snow removal centers to be used in the works, said, “926 kilometers of snow shields were built in sections where traffic flow became difficult or closed due to blizzard and breeze on our roads. In snow removal centers; route analysis, snow removal works, opened and closed roads and instant traffic are monitored from our smart transportation centers via monitors.”
Stating that weather and road conditions are also monitored from the KGM and Regional Centers through fixed cameras located at important passages, Uraloğlu said, “480 snow-fighting vehicles assigned to critical sections are monitored with cameras, and 5 snow-fighting vehicles are monitored with the Vehicle Tracking System. In this way, effective snow fighting is carried out.”
Warning to Drivers
Minister Uraloğlu, who also gave advice to citizens traveling by car, said, “Our drivers and passengers who will travel in the winter season must definitely get information about the travel route before setting off. They should be prepared for winter conditions by taking precautions such as putting winter tires on their vehicles and having chains and chocks in their vehicles.”
Uraloğlu stated that citizens who will travel can learn about the road conditions from the ALO 123 Ministry Call Center, ALO 159 Road Information Line, mobile phone application or the route analysis program offered on the KGM website, and said, “We will be on the alert at all times to prevent traffic disruption with our snow-fighting teams waiting on the roadside.”
Winter Tire Application Starts Today
Uraloğlu, reminding that it will be mandatory to use winter tires as of today, continued his words as follows:
“Between December 1st and April 1st; it will be mandatory for all tires on the axles of commercial vehicles such as trucks, tankers, minibuses and buses to have winter tires. Although it is not legally mandatory, I especially recommend that all private vehicles also install winter tires. Those who do not install winter tires and do not comply with the rules should not forget that a fine of 4 liras and penalty points will be imposed. We expect our drivers to comply with the warnings of our law enforcement officers and highway officers and traffic rules during their travels.”
