Rome, 5 January 2017
This was a new test of engineering efficiency abroad for Italferr, the FS Italiane Group’s engineering company.
The completion of the “Eurasia Tunnel” project in record time meant that the Turkish authorities could open the tunnel eight months early in late December, compared with the anticipated completion in August 2017.
In May 2014, Italferr won the $11 million contract for the supervision of the road tunnel work, beating competition from Yüksel Proje, the main Turkish design company, the German firm, Bernard Ingenieure GmbH, and the Austrian company, Geoconsult GmbH, working under a joint venture with the Turkish company, Altinok.
At a total length of 14.6 km, including 5.4 km in Bosphorus at a maximum depth of 106 metres below sea level, this underwater motorway has been designed in Istanbul to connect the Asian bank of Turkey with the European side.
The new tunnel, which runs alongside the Marmaray railway tunnel, includes two levels and a dual carriageway.
Approximately 100,000 vehicles are expected to pass through the tunnel every day, shortening the journey time between the two continents from an hour and 40 minutes to 15 minutes.
The FS Italiane Group has been highly interested in the Turkish market for years. In fact, the goal is to consolidate FS’s presence in Turkey, while also taking part in new design and work supervision tenders in other transport infrastructure sectors, such as the metropolitan, road and major work sectors.