Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Tunç Soyerexamined the construction of the Onat Tunnel, which is in the second phase of the project that will connect Buca and Bornova without interruption. Stating that they have completed the 800-meter section of İzmir's longest tunnel, which will breathe the city traffic, Mayor Soyer said, “We will complete the project in 2025. On Monday, 2,2, we will put into service the 8.5.2023-kilometer viaduct stage, which will provide the connection of the Buca Onat Tunnel to the bus station and the ring road.
Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Tunç Soyerexamined the ongoing Buca Onat Tunnel works in the second phase of the “Buca Onat Street, Intercity Bus Terminal and Ring Road Connection Road” project, which will connect Buca and Bornova uninterruptedly. The President, who met with the representatives of the contractor company and the workers Tunç Soyerreceived information about the work. Stating that the project, which is planned to relieve the urban traffic to a great extent, excites them, Soyer said, “The work has been liquidated, it has started again. So we wasted time, but it doesn't matter. Our company continues to work with an extraordinary effort. This tunnel will be Izmir's longest tunnel. It is about 2 and a half kilometers long. 800 meters has been completed. We plan to finish it in the first half of 2025," he said.
“It will be able to go to the north of the city easily”
Stating that when the project is completed, it will be possible to come to Buca Homeros Boulevard from Izmir Intercity Bus Terminal within 10 minutes without entering the city traffic, Soyer said, “Now, the distance that takes 45-50 minutes will be reduced to 10 minutes. Likewise, our citizens coming from the airport will be able to easily go to the north of the city without getting into urban traffic. Buca Onat Tunnel is a big investment with a budget of 1 billion 400 million liras. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality is doing this with its own means," he said.
“Something that gives hope to Turkey”
Stating that they will open the 2,2-kilometer viaduct stage, which will connect the tunnel to the bus station and the ring road, at the beginning of the week, Mayor Soyer said, “The total length of the project is 7,1 kilometers. 2,5 kilometers will pass as tunnels and 7,5 kilometers as viaducts. Together with the 2,2 kilometer ring road viaduct connection, we will have completed a 10 kilometer route between the Konak tunnels and the bus station ring road. Even this will give the city a very serious breath. It will significantly alleviate the traffic flow, especially around Bornova and the bus station. The cost of the viaducts reached 170 million liras. As Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, we are continuing this huge investment with great speed. I would like to thank everyone who worked hard and everyone who worked in difficult conditions. We are proud of you. It is a valuable investment that will save İzmir's future and pave the way for İzmir. It goes hand in hand. It is something that gives hope to all of Turkey that this investment is being made while there is such great uncertainty, inflation is so high, the uncertainty in exchange rates continues, the cost of living increases. Despite everything, we will continue these investments with determination.”
2,2 kilometer viaduct stage opens
The 2,2-kilometer viaduct stage of the Buca Onat Tunnel, which will connect the bus station and the ring road, will be put into service on Monday, May 8th. Construction of 2 viaducts, 2 underpasses and 1 overpass has been completed. Connection roads, lighting made. With the opening of the viaducts and underpasses, the vehicle traffic in front of Bornova and the terminal will be relieved. The cost of the viaduct construction is 170 million liras. When the tunnel construction, which continues with an investment of 1 billion 400 million liras, is completed, the distance between Konak and Bornova will be reduced to 10 minutes and the city traffic will be greatly relieved. In the excavation process, which started on June 20, 2022, 552 meters were reached in the two tubes of the tunnel.