World’s Longest Suspension Bridge opens – ^
“1915ÇANAKKALE” OPENS 18 MONTHS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
The 1915Çanakkale Bridge was officially opened in a ceremony attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Friday 18th March 2022, at Gallipoli in Turkey.
Taking it’s title as the world’s longest mid-span and highest tower suspension bridge, the 1915Çanakkale Bridge was completed 18-months ahead of schedule.
Tendered by the Turkish Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, General Directorate of Motorways on 2017, financed and constructed by the Turkish-Korean joint venture partners – DL E&C–Limak–SK ecoplant–Yapı Merkezi – the 1915Çanakkale Bridge and Motorway will enable the crossing between Asia and Europe continents in six minutes through the Çanakkale Strait (Dardanelles). It will also provide a new heavy transit alternative to the Istanbul Strait passage, meaning faster and more cost-effective freight transport, as well as strengthened economic, political, tourism and social bonds for the region.
At a total bridge length of 4,608 metres, a central span of 2,023 metres and a total bridge tower height of 318 metres (334 metres the top point), the 1915Çanakkale Bridge is the longest mid-span and highest tower suspension bridge in the world. The Bridge connects Gelibolu on the European side, with Lapseki on the Asian side. The bridge is named as 1915Çanakkale in honour and remembrance of the Çanakkale Battle during World War I that took place between Turkish and Allied forces.
Numerical Data on 1915Çanakkale Bridge
177,000 tons of steel has been used on the bridge, including the reinforcement. With this amount of steel, approximately 128,000 passenger vehicles can be produced. With the total of 227,000 cubic meters of concrete used in concrete foundations and anchor blocks, 5,900 flats of 100 m2 can be constructed which is equal to a district with a population of 25 thousand. There exists a 9-meter aerodynamic air gap between the commuting directions of the bridge, which helps to minimize the wind effect. The tower foundations are settled on the sea floor at a depth of 45 meters on the Asian side and at a depth of 37 meters on the European side. Tower foundations, also called caissons, are approximately at the size of a football field, with dimensions of 84 m x 73 m. The main cable of the bridge consists of 144 wire strands in the main span and of 148 wire strands in the side spans, with each consisting of 127 high-strength steel wires. In case the wires are added end to end, total length is going to reach 162.000 km which equals to 4 times the circumference of the Earth. During the placement of the upper cross beam of the towers, the piece weighing 155 tons has been lifted to 318 meters, making it a record-breaking heavy lifting operation in the world, considering the weight and height parameters. Within the scope of Malkara-Çanakkale Motorway, which covers a total of 101 kilometers; in addition to 2 viaducts and 12 junctions (including those on the state road), there exist 12 bridges, 43 overpasses (including 1 ecological bridge), 40 underpasses, 236 culverts, 4 motorway service areas and 2 maintenance operation centers.
Symbols of 1915Çanakkale Bridge
The red and white color of the towers represents our glorious flag, the middle span of 2023 meters between the two towers represents the 100th Anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, and the tower height of 318-meters represents “18th March 1915” Çanakkale Victory. The cannonball replicas which will be placed on the towers reflect the 215 kg cannonball carried by Corporal Seyit and demonstrate the independence of the Turkish Nation. (The tower height is 334 meters with the cannonballs, which is the world’s tallest among suspension bridges.) The ribbed pattern of the classical Turkish architecture has been applied on the tie beams of the bridge whereas a special design inspired by the Çanakkale Martyrs Monument has been applied on the viaduct piers.
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