Türkiye to launch tender process for Istanbul's third bridge in September

AA - The Turkish government plans to issue a tender notice in September for the construction of the third bridge over Istanbul Strait, said Binali Yildirim, the Turkish Minister of Transport. He added that the third bridge will carry transit traffic from Asia in the east to Europe in the west via suburban motorways. Meanwhile, the Turkish government remains silent over the location of the third bridge to prevent false rumors concerning the trading of lands on the possible routes. Yildirim said the municipal development plans will be changed in August in some areas of Istanbul, Izmit and Adapazari where linking motorways will be built. "We plan to issue a tender notice in September", he noted. Yildirim also said engineers are working on a plan to add a rail system to the original project. "We have not yet decided whether to add a rail system on the bridge. The issue will gain clarity once our engineers complete feasibility studies", he said. Yildirim said the government is very sensitive about forested areas around Istanbul, adding that linking expressways will be composed of tunnels and viaducts to protect the environment. Some 30 million vehicles pass through the two current bridges on the Istanbul Strait (Bosphorus) every month.