The construction of the Istanbul’s Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge is almost done. The last apron of the construction was placed by the President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu on Sunday. By the placement of the last apron, the construction has come to end and Asia and Europe was united once again. The bridge will be put into service in August.
The city’s 3rd bridge was named after 16th century Ottoman Sultan Selim I, who ruled the empire for 8 years and succeeded remarkable achievements. He is the Sultan who assumed the title of “Caliphate” to the Turks by defeating Umayyads.
Almost 1000 workers and engineers have pegged away at the construction of the 3rd Bridge. Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge is, with its 59 meters, the widest drawbridge of the world, the highest drawbridge of the world (the tower is 320 meters high) and the longest drawbridge of the world that houses a rail system of 1408 meters as the main span. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said “This Bridge will be our message to rest of the world” in his speech.
The rail system of Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge is going to transport passengers between Edirne and İzmit. Marmaray and the Istanbul Metro will be integrated in the rail system of the bridge and Atatürk Airport, Sabiha Gökçen Airport and the 3rd Airport -under construction- is going to be interconnected.
Born and raised in Istanbul where I’m a medical student at YeditepeUniversity.