It will solve Izmir's chronic traffic problem and connect Buca and Bornova without interruption. A critical phase has been left behind in the Onat Tunnel project. The phrase “light at the end of the tunnel” has come true. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay personally got on the construction equipment and participated in the demolition of the last wall connecting the right tube. Behind the demolished wall, the workers who worked 7/24 for the construction of the project welcomed Mayor Tugay with the Turkish flag. After this meaningful moment, Mayor Tugay announced that they aimed to complete the project within one year.
An Epic Rising with the Own Resources of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality
The Buca Onat Tunnel, which is being built by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality with its own resources, will be a turning point not only for Izmir but also for Turkey when it is completed. Because this tunnel, The longest highway tunnel built with municipal resources in Türkiye will carry the title. The excavation work on the right tube of the 2,5-kilometer tunnel stage of this historical investment, which will virtually “breathe” the city traffic, is now completely finished. Coming to the area where the tunnel excavation was carried out at the Buca Onat Street entrance, Mayor Tugay got on the excavator and broke the last wall connecting the Buca Onat Street and Altındağ entrances.
In addition to Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Council CHP Group Deputy Chairman Altan İnanç and Izmir Metropolitan Municipality bureaucrats also attended the ceremony. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General Çağatay Güç provided detailed information to Mayor Tugay about the latest status of the project.
Traffic Comfort and Fast Completion Message from Chairman Tugay
Emphasizing the stage the project has reached and its importance in his speech at the program, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay noted the following: “Having passed one more stage, the excavations that started from both ends of one of the tunnels have been completed. As they say, ‘Light was seen at the end of the tunnel,’ we experienced that in a tunnel. There is also a 140-meter space left on the other side. When that is opened, the excavation of both tunnels will be completed. Work continues outside the tunnel as well.”
President Tugay said the project It will relieve traffic congestion in Yeşildere, Mürselpaşa and Ankara Streets He drew attention to its strategic location. He stated that this tunnel will serve as a “bypass” that will transfer traffic to Bornova via Buca. Referring to the length of the tunnel, Tugay said, “We are building a 2,5-kilometer tunnel, 2,5 kilometers in and 5 kilometers out. It is the longest tunnel built with municipal resources in Türkiye. It is also the first tunnel built by the municipality in Izmir. It is also the longest tunnel in Izmir.”
Despite being in a difficult economic period, President Tugay stated that they are progressing quickly by allocating resources for this project and said, “We are trying to complete it as quickly as possible because we know that it will ease traffic. Despite being in a difficult economic period, we are working with all our might to complete this tunnel by allocating resources for this project. After the tunnel is opened and the floor and ceiling are covered, mechanical work will be carried out. A connection road from the end of the tunnel will connect to the highway near the bus station. We will complete it within a year at the latest. "We think so," he said.
“Government Will Serve Izmir, God willing”: Emphasis on Cooperation
Reminding that they continue the projects with intense effort, Mayor Tugay stated that basic municipal services are provided without interruption, social municipality continues to strengthen and they focus on the basic needs of the city such as infrastructure, transportation, traffic and urban transformation.
Tugay, who pointed out that some issues were being put on the shoulders of the municipality even though they were not its responsibility, gave the example of the gulf cleaning issue. “Although only 13 months have passed during this period, we have recently opened the 4th Phase, which has not been completed and has been delayed for a long time. When this tunnel is finished and we open it, we will have completed the second big project,” he said, summarizing the work done.
Reminding us of the work done against the statements of “not doing anything”, Tugay said, “We are really working very hard. We are currently working hard for the opening of Dostluk Boulevard, we are working for the Mürselpaşa Underpass. On the other hand, we have reached a certain point in the long-awaited urban transformation projects. The constructions that were to be done through cooperatives but were stopped have started again” and emphasized the multi-faceted work of the municipality.
President Tugay also expressed his expectation of cooperation with the central government: “While we were building this tunnel, we would have liked the government to have started construction on the second ring road. There are other things to be done. If only we could work together on these. We are also ready to do our best. I am still waiting with hope. God willing, they will serve Izmir as well, and we will be very pleased to work with them.” This statement drew attention to the importance of harmonious cooperation between the local government and the central government.
88% Progress in Project: Izmir's Longest Highway Tunnel Rises
In the Onat Tunnel project, which will ease the transportation burden of the city, great progress was made during the 13-month service period of President Tugay. Teams working day and night completed the excavation work in the right tube. The left tube is nearing completion, Only 150 meters of excavation distance leftWork continues at full speed on the 1,5-kilometer divided highway and engineering structures on the roadside phase of the project, which is outside the tunnel excavations.
In total project making significant progress of 88 percent teams, the project Opening to traffic in 2026 aims.
When looking at the technical specifications of the tunnel, it is stated that its height is 7,5 meters and its width is 10,6 meters. The 8,3-kilometer Buca Onat Tunnel, one of the most important stages of the 2,5-kilometer transit road that starts from the Konak Tunnel and ends at the bus station viaducts, is located between Buca Ufuk Neighborhood and Bornova Çamkule.
The Distance Between Buca and Bornova Will Be Reduced to 10 Minutes: A Great Transformation in Transportation
When the Onat Tunnel project is completed, it will reduce travel time between Buca and Bornova will reduce it to just 10 minutes. In this way, you can get to Bornova from districts such as Konak, Balçova, Çeşme, Urla without getting into city traffic. Karşıyaka It will provide direct connections to districts to the north of Izmir, as well as to the Istanbul and Ankara road.
Thanks to the new artery to be formed in the city center, Bornova traffic on Yeşildere Street and Ankara Street and Halkapınar traffic on Şehitler Street and Kamil Tunca towards the bus station will be greatly relieved. Izmir residents will experience the comfort of reaching the bus station and Bornova in a short time by connecting to the Buca Onat Tunnel via Konak Tunnel and Homeros Boulevard.
The investment cost of the project at current prices is 3 billion TL This huge investment will go down in history as a strategic step that will modernize Izmir's transportation infrastructure, ease traffic and significantly increase the city's overall quality of life. The Buca Onat Tunnel is becoming a symbol of a major investment in Izmir's future, beyond being just a transportation project.
