Ordu Nefise Akçelik Tunnel
Encyclopedia
Ordu Nefise Akçelik Tunnel , originally Hapan Tunnel, is a highway tunnel
constructed in Ordu Province
, northern Turkey
. With its length of 3820 m (12,532.8 ft), it is the country's longest tunnel. The tunnel is named in honor of the Turkish female civil engineer and earth scientist Nefise Akçelik (1955-2003).
-Yüksel joint venture
. The cost of the tunnel totalled to TL 361 million (approx. US$265 million as of 2007 exchange rate). It has twin bores and carries two lanes of traffic in each direction. Traffic in the tunnel is controlled by 81 cameras at 16 different stations.
The tunnel crosses mountainous area between the settlements Yarlı and Kırlı in Perşembe
district of Ordu Province
at 220 m (721.8 ft) elevation. It allows a short cut of 15 km (9.3 mi) between the town Fatsa
and the city of Ordu
saving one and half hours driving time.
, contributed much to the construction of tunnels in Turkey. Finally, it was officially renamed Ordu Nefise Akçelik Tunnel in March 2007.
The tunnel was opened to traffic on April 7, 2007 by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
.
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
constructed in Ordu Province
Ordu Province
Ordu Province is a province of Turkey, located on the Black Sea coast. Its adjacent provinces are Samsun to the northwest, Tokat to the southwest, Sivas to the south, and Giresun to the east. Its traffic code is 52...
, northern Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. With its length of 3820 m (12,532.8 ft), it is the country's longest tunnel. The tunnel is named in honor of the Turkish female civil engineer and earth scientist Nefise Akçelik (1955-2003).
Construction
Ordu Nefise Akçelik Tunnel is part of the Samsun-Ordu Highway within the Black Sea Coastal Highway, of which construction was carried out by the Turkish Nurol-TekfenTekfen Construction and Installation Co.Inc.
Tekfen is a Turkish conglomerate based in Istanbul. Tekfen has many subsidiaries engaged in a diverse range of construction activities including power generation, airports, petroleum, and roadways...
-Yüksel joint venture
Joint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...
. The cost of the tunnel totalled to TL 361 million (approx. US$265 million as of 2007 exchange rate). It has twin bores and carries two lanes of traffic in each direction. Traffic in the tunnel is controlled by 81 cameras at 16 different stations.
The tunnel crosses mountainous area between the settlements Yarlı and Kırlı in Perşembe
Persembe
Perşembe is a town and district of Ordu Province on the Black Sea coast of Turkey. According to the 2000 census, population of the district is 37,512 of which 10,804 live in the town of Perşembe...
district of Ordu Province
Ordu Province
Ordu Province is a province of Turkey, located on the Black Sea coast. Its adjacent provinces are Samsun to the northwest, Tokat to the southwest, Sivas to the south, and Giresun to the east. Its traffic code is 52...
at 220 m (721.8 ft) elevation. It allows a short cut of 15 km (9.3 mi) between the town Fatsa
Fatsa
Fatsa is a town and a large district of Ordu Province in the central Black Sea region of Turkey.-Etymology:The name Fatsa derives from Fanizan daughter of King Pharnaces II of Pontus and has since mutated through Fanise, Phadsane, Pytane, Facha and today's Fatsa. In the Ottoman Empire records the...
and the city of Ordu
Ordu
Ordu 'army') is a port city on the Black Sea coast of Turkey, and the capital of Ordu Province. Estimated population c. 2010: 141,341.-Etymology:...
saving one and half hours driving time.
Naming and opening to traffic
Originally, the tunnel was named Hapan Tunnel. Its name was changed to Nefise Akçelik (1955-2003) in honor of the female civil engineer and earth scientist, who, working at the General Directorate of HighwaysGeneral Directorate of Highways (Turkey)
The General Directorate of Highways is a state agency in charge of the construction and maintenance of all public roadways outside of cities and towns in Turkey. It was established on March 1, 1950 following the acceptance of the International Highways Act in 1949. The agency is a sub unit of the...
, contributed much to the construction of tunnels in Turkey. Finally, it was officially renamed Ordu Nefise Akçelik Tunnel in March 2007.
The tunnel was opened to traffic on April 7, 2007 by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been Prime Minister of Turkey since 2003 and is chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party , which holds a majority of the seats in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Erdoğan served as Mayor of Istanbul from 1994 to 1998. He graduated in 1981 from Marmara...
.