Adil Karaismailoglu, the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure stated that the part of the Northern Marmara Highway between Gebze-Izmit Junction will be opened on September 19 with a ceremony attended by President Erdogan via a video conference. According to the statement of Karaismailoglu, the part located between Sevindikli Junction and TEM Izmit-1 Junction will be opened to traffic at 23.59 after the opening ceremony.
Karaismailoglu pointed out that Northern Marmara Highway Project aims at reducing the traffic load of Istanbul and reminded that 6 different parts of the road have been put into service so far. He said:
‘’On Saturday, we will open the part between Gebze-Izmit Junction, which has a total length of 57.4 kilometers including 43.3 kilometers of main roads and 14.1 kilometers of connection roads. Thus, the section of the Northern Marmara Highway opened to traffic will reach 321.2 kilometers. The most important criterion for us is the travel comfort and safety of the citizens.’’
‘’There will be a new alternative road.’’
Karaismailoglu stated that the Northern Marmara Highway is of great importance in ensuring transit passage of vehicles without entering the city traffic by reducing the traffic density in the city and on the bridges. He also emphasized that Istanbul’s inner city traffic has already been relieved with the opened parts of the project. Karaismailoglu said:
‘’ A fast, safe and comfortable new transportation alternative will be created to the existing TEM Highway and D-100 Highway, which are exposed to high traffic volume and located between Istanbul and Kocaeli, with the opening of the part between Gebze-Izmit Junction.
Vehicles coming from Istanbul using the Northern Marmara Highway will be connected to Cakirkoy Izmit and Izmit-Kandira State Road and to the TEM Istanbul-Ankara Highway between the Kandira and East Izmit intersections of the current TEM Highway. ‘’
‘’The project will save 595 million liras.’’
Karaismailoglu stated that The Northern Marmara Highway will integrate the Northern Marmara Region and the South Marmara Region into the transportation system in the Western Anatolia Region by combining the Kinali-Tekirdag-Canakkale-Savastepe Highway, which also includes the 1915 Canakkale Bridge, with the Istanbul-Izmir Highway. Karaismailoglu said:
‘’ In this respect, transportation from Istanbul to Kocaeli and Sakarya provinces, where there are dense industrial areas, will be easier. The part between the Gebze-Izmit juntion will annually save 595 million liras including 270 million liras from time, 317 million liras from fuel oil and 8 million liras from less emissions by providing uninterrupted traffic flow on the Gebze-Izmit route over the Northern Marmara Highway. We will prevent traffic congestion from Istanbul to Kocaeli with the invesments.’’
source: AA / translated by Melisa Karayusufoglu