75th Anniversary Selatin Tunnel

75th Anniversary Selatin Tunnel (Turkish: 75. Yıl Selatin Tüneli), is a road tunnel constructed on the motorway O-31 / E87 at the province border of Izmir and Aydın, western Turkey. It is situated 35 km (22 mi) northwest of Aydın and 80 km (50 mi) southeast of Izmir, between the junctions Belevi and Germencik. With its length of 3,043 m (9,984 ft), it was the country's longest tunnel when opened on 20 April 2000.[1]

75th Anniversary Selatin Tunnel
75. Yıl Selatin Tüneli
Overview
LocationBelevi, Selçuk, Izmir Province-Germencik, Aydın Province
Coordinates37°58′41″N 27°30′07″E / 37.97819°N 27.50202°E / 37.97819; 27.50202
75th Anniversary Selatin Tunnel is located in Turkey
75th Anniversary Selatin Tunnel
75th Anniversary Selatin Tunnel
Location of 75th Anniversary Selatin Tunnel in Turkey.
Route O-31 / E87
Start1 April 1990
Operation
ConstructedKutlutaş and Dillingham joint venture
Opened20 April 2000; 24 years ago (2000-04-20)
OperatorGeneral Directorate of Highways
Trafficautomotive
Technical
Length3,018 m (9,902 ft) and 3,043 m (9,984 ft)
No. of lanes2 x 3
Operating speed80 km/h (50 mph)
Highest elevation243 m (797 ft)
Lowest elevation164 m (538 ft)
Tunnel clearance4.80 m (15.7 ft)
Width12 m (39 ft) each bore
Grade2.6%

Starting on 1 April 1990, its construction was carried out by the joint venture Kutlutaş and Dillingham in New Austrian Tunnelling method (NATM).[2] The cost of the tunnel totalled to US$121 million.[3]

The tunnel was initially named after its location in Selatin village of Germencik district. Following its completion, it was renamed in memory of the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish Republic (1923).[1]

As of 2012, it ranks on the second place after the 3.8 km (2.4 mi) long Ordu Nefise Akçelik Tunnel opened in 2007. It has twin bores of 3,018 m (9,902 ft) and 3,043 m (9,984 ft) length, and carries three lanes of traffic in each direction. Each of the bores is 12 m (39 ft) wide and 4.80 m (15.7 ft) high.[1][2]

The tunnel is equipped with a modern electronic road traffic safety and control system as the first ever in Turkey.[2] Speed limit in the tunnel is 80 km/h (50 mph), which can be reduced to 60 km/h (37 mph) or 40 km/h (25 mph) upon certain conditions.[1] Dangerous goods carriers are not permitted to use the tunnel.[4]

Civil engineering feat

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Turkish Chamber of Civil Engineers lists 75th year Selatin Tunnel as one of the fifty civil engineering feats in Turkey, a list of remarkable engineering projects realized in the first 50 years of the chamber.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "İzmir - Aydın Otoyolu 75. Yıl Selatin Tüneli" (in Turkish). Wow Turkey. Retrieved 2012-06-22.
  2. ^ a b c "Selatin Tüneli açılıyor". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 2000-04-20. Retrieved 2012-06-22.
  3. ^ "75. Yıl Selatin Tüneli/Aydın - İzmir Otoyolu" (PDF) (in Turkish). IMO. Retrieved 2012-06-22.
  4. ^ "Tehlikeli Maddelerin Taşınmasına İzin Verilmeyen Otoyol Tünelleri" (PDF) (in Turkish). Karayolları Genel Müdürlüğü. Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  5. ^ The list (in Turkish) Archived 2013-10-31 at the Wayback Machine