Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge

The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, built within the scope of the North Marmara Highway Project, became the 3rd bridge to be built in the Bosphorus Strait after the Bosphorus Bridge, which was launched in 1973, and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, which was completed in 1988.
Built in 2013 and opened in 2016, this bridge is in the Odayeri – Pashaköy section of the North Marmara Motorway project. The rail system on the bridge will carry passengers from Edirne to Izmit. Ataturk Airport, Sabiha Gokcen Airport, and the newly built 3rd airport with the rail system to be integrated with Marmaray and Istanbul Metro. The airport will also be connected.
Built with high engineering and technology, the bridge became the world’s first bridge, with an 8-lane highway and a 2-lane railway running at the same level. With a width of 59 meters and a main span of 1,408 meters, it was the longest and widest suspension bridge in the world. It also became the world’s tallest tower bridge with a height of more than 320 meters.
The concept design of the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge was made jointly by Michel Virlogeux, a structural engineer described as a “French bridge master”, and the Swiss company T-Engineering.
The $2.5 billion Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge and 115 km highway guaranteed 135,000 one-way daily vehicle crossings. A $3 fee was guaranteed for the bridge and $0.08 per kilometre for the highway.
North Marmara Highway and The third Bosphorus Bridge Project will bring Turkey closer to this goal and become one of the symbols of modern Turkey, aiming to become one of the 10 largest economies in the world in 2023.