Within the scope of the Sarıyer Kilyos Tunnel project, the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), which will be used for the first time in Turkey under the responsibility of the General Directorate of Highways, was put into service with a ceremony attended by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu and General Director of Highways Ahmet Gülşen.
“TBM is an extremely effective technology used in digging long tunnels”
Minister Uraloğlu, who stated that the fact that Turkey's geography is predominantly mountainous terrain is both a challenge for the construction sector and a situation that necessitates the development of innovative solutions, said, “Construction in mountainous regions is a more costly and time-consuming process compared to flat lands. Factors such as more detailed ground surveys, more meticulous blasting and excavation work, and difficult transportation increase the cost of projects. However, Turkey's growing economy and developing urbanization require construction activities to continue despite these difficulties. At this point, the importance of the mechanical excavation method of tunnels with TBM, or Tunnel Boring Machines, is increasing even more. TBM is an extremely effective technology used in the excavation of long tunnels, especially in residential areas.”
Emphasizing that the difficult geography of our country has improved them a lot in the field of construction with innovative and large projects, Uraloğlu said that Turkish contracting companies have raised our country to the level of exporting engineering to the world with the structures they have constructed both at home and abroad.
“Sarıyer-Kilyos Tunnel will increase the quality of life of our citizens”
Uraloğlu stated that they have crossed a new threshold by starting the TBM excavation in Sarıyer Kilyos Tunnel and said, “This tunnel will not only bring two points together, but will also strengthen the transportation network of Istanbul and our country, contribute to economic development and increase the quality of life of our citizens. Our project, which starts from the Sarıyer Çayırbaşı Tunnel exit and ends at the KMO Uskumruköy Modern Roundabout, includes a total of 2 different-level intersections, 198 1-meter viaduct, 2 open-close structures and 1 culvert.”
Conveyor belt system with a carrying capacity of 2 thousand tons per hour
Providing information about the excavation work carried out in the tunnel, Minister Uraloğlu said the following: “To date; we have achieved a total of 2.511 meters, or 2.018 percent progress, 4.529 meters in the right tube and 33 meters in the left tube. We have assembled the TBM parts, which are 2 meters high, 26 meters wide, 30 meters long and weigh 90 tons, approximately 3.400 km inside in the direction of Sarıyer in the northern portal of the tunnel, namely the left tube. We have also established a conveyor belt system that is 1,2 meters wide, 7,2 kilometers long and has a carrying capacity of 2 tons per hour for the transportation of the waste material to be released as a result of the TBM excavations to the outside of the tunnel.”
Will provide service free of charge
Uraloğlu, who stated that the project will start providing free service when completed, said, “It will facilitate access from Sarıyer, Maslak and Levent regions to the Northern Marmara Motorway and Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, which connect Asia and Europe and increase Turkey’s transportation alternatives and trade capacity. Rapid transportation will be provided between Istanbul Airport and Istanbul’s business centers through the Sarıyer-Çayırbaşı Tunnel and the Sarıyer-Kilyos Tunnel immediately following it.”
“We will reduce travel time from 35 minutes to 5 minutes”
Emphasizing that thanks to the project, they will shorten the distance by 3 kilometers compared to the current development roads and reduce the travel time from 35 minutes to 5 minutes, Uraloğlu said, “Thus, we will save 1,7 billion liras in total annually, 400 billion liras in time and 2,1 million liras in fuel. We will also contribute to the protection of nature by reducing the carbon emission of vehicles that harm the environment by 32 thousand tons.”
