Turkey opens one of the world’s biggest suspension bridges
Turkey, the country who planned to connect Europe and Asia for the third time was successful by building the world's biggest suspension bridge. It is built in the style of New York's Brooklyn Bridge and boasts pylons higher than the Eiffel Tower. The bridge creates a new link across the Bosphorus Strait, which divides Asia and Europe.
According to DailySabah, world's biggest suspension bridge is named as Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge. The bridge was build nine months ahead than the given schedule. It took a record breaking time period of 27 months to build such a gigantic suspension bridge. The details for finishing ahead were reported by Transportation, Maritime and Communications Minister Ahmet Arslan. He also stated that the project is first of its kind to finish within the allotted time frame and can break a world record.
The bridge was built with a construction technique of 'build-operate-transfer model'. The Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs and the General Directorate of Forestry were closely handling the do's and don'ts related to tress. Although, 300,000 trees were picked and safely transferred to other place, 2.5 million trees were already planted in their place. In coming future 5.1 million trees will be planted along the route as reported to journalist by Arslan. 6500 workers and engineers jointly worked for the accomplishment of this great bridge connecting two continents.
According to Telegraph, the bridge was inaugurated by President Erdogan along with dignitaries from Bahrain, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Pakistan, Georgia and northern Cyprus. The total length of the bridge is 2,164 meters and the width accounting to 58.4 meters. The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge was boosted with $3million and is considered to be the world's broadest suspension bridge.
The bridge is incorporated with 10 lanes of highways and 2 rail lines. It can also have another title of "longest suspension bridge with rail system". The height of the tower on the European side is 322 meters and the tower on the Asian side is 318 meters high.
According to Telegraph, the rail system will connect Edirne to İzmit. The same rail system will be joined with Istambul Metro and the rail lines will connect Istanbul Atatürk International Airport, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport and the third airport which is under construction.
Italy's Astaldi and Istambul based IC Ictas will jointly operate the bridge for about a decade as per Telegraph
The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge has set a tremendous record in the Civil Engineering World.
