Project Design
The Eurasia Tunnel was designed by Parsons Brinckerhoff International Inc. (PBI), a leading global company in its field, and certified by the HNTB company, an independent design auditor, and was put into implementation following the approval of Republic of Turkey Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Maritime and Communication, Infrastructural Investments General Directorate. The Tunnel’s approach roads of 9.2 kilometers were integrated to the existing traffic and infrastructure network of Istanbul based on the negotiations with the relevant public institutions (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (İSKİ), etc.) A Coastal Park Renewal Plan was prepared for the restoration and improvement of the existing coastal park on the European side of the project, as undertaken under the Environmental Impact Assessment Report. The development of this plan continues according to the framework set forth under the subject Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Report. The design of the project has been conducted with a Design Change Management Procedure with international standards. Accordingly, all changes made on the design studied under the subject Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Plan have been studied by the environment and social experts of the project, and the design team was provided guidance on the possible impacts of these changes.
Construction of the Project
The construction of the project was started on 30 January 2013, and the duration of the construction was envisaged as 55 months. However, the construction was completed in a total of 47 months and three days (3 years, 11 months, and 3 days). Double-deck tunnel excavation under the project was conducted by a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM). Excavations conducted with conventional methods (New Austrian Tunneling Method – NATM) was completed in May 2015, and the double-deck tunnel excavation conducted with TBM was succesfully completed in August 2015. For approach roads; construction sites were established at Kazlıçeşme, Samatya, Yenikapı and Çatladıkapı on European side, and at Haydarpaşa, Eyüp Aksoy Junction and Koşuyolu area on Asian side. Construction activities were conducted by Yapı Merkezi and SK Ecoplant. Traditional Turkish architectural motives were combined with esthetical, functionality and advanced engineering in the Eurasian Tunnel.