“Three Level Tunnel Won’t Solve Traffic Like Other Projects“

Regarding Istanbul’s new project to build a three-level sub-sea tunnel, Murat Ergün, an Associate Professor at Istanbul Technical University’s (İTÜ) Civil Engineering Faculty, told bianet that traffic issues won’t be resolved with more roads.

“Build as many tunnels and tubes. When you exit to the bosporus, you will face traffic again,” he said. 

The new project, announced by Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu this afternoon, will include gigantic tunnel undersea with three different level designed for metro line and double lane motorway. While the destinations are unknown, it is estimated that it will save time for intercontinental commute. 

We need metro, not motorway

Some of the highlights from bianet editor Nilay Vardar’s interview with Murat Ergün are as follows: 

“They are designing populist and non-scientific projects without a proper plan. So far, every project they proposed would resolve the traffic issue. Did they succeed? No. Turkey is still on the top 3 worldwide for worst traffic. 

“Istanbul must not house any highways. Not even trams should go on the ground. We only need metro, there is no other solution. 

“Once you cross the continent, you will encounter traffic on the ground again. This project will likely to connect at Hasdal. But there is no metro line there. 

Marmaray would have 1M passengers but remained at 300K 

"Marmaray is not finished yet. The commuter rail system has yet to integrated. Only the tunnel with one level was finished in 10 years. It costed 7 billion liras. How will this project finish in 5 years by spending 3.5 billion as they claim? 

"Marmaray has the passenger load equivalent to boats in Istanbul. While it was expected to have 1 million passengers per day, now it only reached 300,000. Euroasia tunnel will not even do that when it is finished. Commuter systems are not designed to compete each other. Why did they invest 7 billion liras then? All tax liras went to the trash.” (NV/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.