Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated that the 52-kilometer-long Çeşmeli-Kızkalesi section of the Çeşmeli-Erdemli-Silifke-Taşucu Highway has reached the completion stage and a 98 percent physical realization level has been reached throughout the project.
In his written statement, Uraloğlu gave information about the ongoing works in the Çeşmeli-Kızkalesi section of the Çeşmeli-Erdemli-Silifke-Taşucu Highway.
Stating that this section is 52 kilometers long, including 41 kilometers of highway and 11 kilometers of connection road, Uraloğlu said, "Within the scope of our project, we are building 6 intersections, 7 tunnels with a total length of 10 thousand 116 meters and 5 viaducts with a length of 1633 meters. In addition, 33 bridges and overpasses with a length of 2 thousand 734 meters, 34 underpasses with a length of 3 thousand 655 meters and 74 culverts with a length of 10 thousand 108 meters "The construction works in the Çeşmeli-Kızkalesi section are at the completion stage. As of today, we have reached the 98 percent physical completion level of our project." he said.
Abdulkadir Uraloğlu noted that within the scope of the project, two highway service facilities, a maintenance operation center and a tunnel operation center will also be established.
It will reduce carbon emissions by 17 thousand 100 tons per year
Pointing out that the Çeşmeli-Kızkalesi section will provide a significant solution to the traffic load that intensifies especially in the summer months, Uraloğlu continued his statement as follows:
"We will transfer a significant part of the transit traffic on the existing state road to the highway. Thus, we will reduce the travel time, which is up to 2.5 hours in the summer months, to 18 minutes. The economic and environmental gains of the project are also important. We will save 3 billion 38 million liras, including 2.7 billion liras from time and 338 million liras from fuel. We will also reduce carbon emissions by 17 thousand 100 tons per year."
Uraloğlu pointed out that the project will significantly ease transportation in the coastal areas of Mersin, one of the important tourism centers of the Mediterranean Region.
Underlining that they will provide uninterrupted and high-standard transportation by connecting Mersin's tourism regions to the operating Mersin-Adana-Gaziantep Highway, Uraloğlu said, "We will allow transit traffic on the D400 Antalya-Mersin and D715 Konya-Mersin state roads to reach the highway network without entering the city centers." made his assessment.
Minister Uraloğlu stated that the highway will also facilitate access to Çukurova International Airport and that the project will contribute to the development of tourism, industry and agricultural production in the region.
Support for the Development Path
Emphasizing that Türkiye has strategic importance in terms of international transportation corridors, Uraloğlu said:
"Çeşmeli-Kızkalesi Highway will provide important infrastructure support to the road leg of the Development Road by strengthening the connections between Mersin's ports, production centers and the existing highway network. With our project, which is a continuation of the Tarsus-Adana-Gaziantep Highway open to traffic, we will also strengthen the uninterrupted highway connection on the Mersin-Adana-Gaziantep-Şanlıurfa axis."
Uraloğlu stated that with the completion of the Kızkalesi-Taşucu section, which is planned to be built in the next stage, the highway connection will extend to Taşucu.
Stating that they will strengthen Taşucu Port's access to the main road network, Uraloğlu gave the following information:
"Thus, we will contribute to reducing the density on Mersin Port and increase the effectiveness of Taşucu Port in the logistics system. Agricultural products, especially early-season vegetables, fruits and citrus fruits grown in the region, will be delivered to large consumption centers such as Ankara and Istanbul in a shorter time. The highway will also strengthen the logistics chain extending from production centers to ports and domestic markets."
