Osman Gazi Bridge Osman Gazi Köprüsü |
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Osman Gazi Bridge at the Gulf of İzmit, July 2016
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Coordinates | 40°45′19″N 29°30′57″E / 40.755153°N 29.515712°ECoordinates: 40°45′19″N 29°30′57″E / 40.755153°N 29.515712°E |
Carries | 3 lanes of Motorway in each direction |
Crosses | Izmit Bay |
Locale | Kocaeli, Turkey |
Official name | Osmangazi Köprüsü |
Other name(s) | İzmit Bay Bridge |
Named for | Osman Gazi |
Maintained by |
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Characteristics | |
Design | Suspension |
Material | steel |
Pier construction | concrete |
Total length | 2,682 m (8,799 ft) |
Width | 35.93 m (117.9 ft) |
Height | 234.425 m (769.11 ft) (pylons) |
Traversable? | Yes |
Longest span | 1,550 m (5,090 ft) |
Number of spans | 3 |
Piers in water | 2 |
Clearance below | 64 m (210 ft) |
History | |
Architect | Dissing+Weitling |
Designer | IHI Corporation |
Contracted lead designer | IHI Corporation |
Engineering design by | COWI A/S |
Construction begin | 30 March 2013 |
Construction end | 30 June 2016 |
Construction cost | US$ 1.2 billion |
Inaugurated | 1 July 2016 |
Statistics | |
Daily traffic | approx. 6000 PCE/day |
Toll | ₺65.65 |
The Osman Gazi Bridge (Turkish: Osman Gazi Köprüsü) is a suspension bridge, located at the Gulf of İzmit along the eastern end of the Sea of Marmara, in close vicinity of Izmit and approximately 50 km (31 mi) southeast of Istanbul, Turkey. It is the fourth-longest suspension bridge in the world by the length of its central span.
Construction and operation of the bridge was awarded to a joint venture (NOMAYG JV) formed by five Turkish companies (Nurol, Özaltın, Makyol, Yüksel and Gocay) and one Italian construction company Astaldi following the international Build–operate–transfer tender that took place in April 2009. In 2010, a contract was signed for the project that was estimated to cost ₺11 billion for the entire highway from Gebze to Bursa.
On March 30, 2013, Prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan laid the ground stone for the bridge.
After the completion of the bridge, the distance between Istanbul and İzmir shortened by about 140 km (87 mi), bypassing the long-stretched Gulf of İzmit. The 420 km (260 mi) highway and bridge reduced the travel time between the two major cities from six-and-half hours to three-and-half hours. The bridge and the connecting highway provide three lanes of traffic in each direction. The construction was completed in 30 June 2016.
The US$1 billion privately financed bridge was awarded to the Japanese firm IHI Infrastructure System Co. on 16 July 2011 as EPC basis with FIDIC Silverbook contract. IHI, which was one of the contractors of second Bosphorus bridge, also completed the seismic reinforcement projects for Halic and Mecidiyekoy viaducts. IHI subcontracted the design works to Danish engineering design firm COWI A/S, which collaborated for the aesthetic design with Dissing+Weitling. Notice to proceed was given by NOMAYG JV to IHI on 1 January 2013 and the expected total project duration was 37 months.