Turkey opens first undersea tunnel linking Istanbul's Asian, European parts

Turkey on Tuesday opened its first tunnel that connects the Asian and European parts of Istanbul with an undersea highway constructed under the Bosphorus Strait.

The two-storey Eurasia Tunnel, which runs 14.6 kilometers, is expected to significantly reduce the traffic jam besetting the metropolis by cutting the travel time from 100 minutes to 15 minutes and by drawing some 100,000 vehicles each day.

"The state treasury will earn 180 million Turkish lira (about 51 million U.S. dollars) annually for a period of 25 years," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the inauguration ceremony. "At the end of this period, the management of the tunnel will be transferred to the state."

The project, completed in four years, cost the building company 1.24 billion dollars.

A 5.4-kilometer part of the tunnel was constructed at a depth of 106 meters under the seabed with the use of a special technology, according to those who spoke on the occasion.

The tunnel is equipped with modern lighting technology, high capacity ventilation system, special fire safety equipment and fire-proof surfacing and emergency evacuation systems.

The earthquake-and-tsunami-proof tunnel can be used as shelter in emergencies due to its superior safety measures, according to a press release.

As Istanbul lies on an active seismic zone, the tunnel was designed to withstand a 7.5-magnitude earthquake, the authorities said.

Before the tunnel was built, Istanbul has three bridges over the Bosphorus linking its Asian and European sides.

"From now on, we will make our journey without dealing with fogs, storms or traffic," Erdogan said. Endit