Beghaz Bridge In Istanbul

Beghaz Bridge In Istanbul

Istanbul is a city that is separated by the Bosphorus Strait, and it has some bridges that span this narrow strait. They are iconic visual representations of this amazing city!

Originally known as the Bogazici Koprusu, this elegant gravity-anchored steel suspension bridge is one of the three bridges that connect Europe to Asia across the Bosphorus. Renamed the 15 July Martyrs Bridge after a failed coup in 2016, it is popular among locals and tourists alike.

Beghaz Bridge In Istanbul

History

Beghaz Bridge is one of Istanbul’s most famous landmarks and connects Europe and Asia. This gravity-anchored steel suspension bridge was built between 1970 and 1973.

The idea of building a bridge over the Bosphorus was first brought to the public attention in the 19th century. However, it was not until 1957 that the government began to select a consulting firm for the project and bidding process.

In 1960, the bidding process was disrupted by a military coup; in the end, the project was never completed.

Another important cross-continental bridge over the Bosphorus, connecting Europe and Asia, is the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. It stretches from Anadolu Hisar on the European side to Rumeli Hisar on the Asian side.

The third cross-continental bridge over the Bosphorus, also connecting Europe and Asia, is the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge. It stretches from Garipce on the European side to Poyrazkoy on the Asian side.

Views

Istanbul, Turkey’s most famous city, straddles two continents – Europe and Asia. Cars, buses, trains and ferries cross over its 19-mile (30-kilometer) Bosphorus Strait, linking Istanbul’s sprawling neighborhoods of Ortakoy on the European side with Uskudar on the Asian.

When the sun goes down, Istanbul’s sweeping skyline is illuminated with a shimmering silver light reflecting castles, mosques, house shadows and forests on both sides of the strait. The Bosphorus Bridge is no exception, making it one of the most popular photo spots in Istanbul.

The 15 July Martyrs Bridge, completed in 1973, connects Europe and Asia via a 1,560-meter steel suspension bridge across the strait. It’s the oldest of Istanbul’s three suspension bridges spanning the Bosphorus.

Pedestrians are no longer allowed to cross the bridge, but you can see it from a distance on walking tours. Alternatively, you can take a Bosphorus cruise to get a closer view of this iconic site at night when the lights are lit up.

Tolls

Turkey earned nearly 1.8 billion liras in tolls associated with its two bridges spanning the Istanbul Strait as well as toll highways last year, according to data from the Turkish Highways Directorate. Those amounts are up 23 percent compared to 2018, measured in liras.

Tolls on highways and bridges in Turkey are now paid electronically using the HGS (Hizli Gecis Sistemi or High-Speed Toll System) technology, which is an automatic toll payment system designed to speed up traffic flow. Vehicles are required to carry either an electronic-chip sticker or a toll transponder (small plastic device mounted at the top-center of the windshield) that communicates with toll-tracking equipment.

Drivers who do not have an HGS chip or transponder must pay the toll by paying with cash at the toll booth. These toll booths have been unmanned since 1999, but the system was improved in 2005 with special contactless smart cards (KGS). A toll ticket can be obtained at these toll booths prior to entering the highway or bridge.

Transportation

Beghaz Bridge is a major transport hub that connects Istanbul to the Asian continent. It is important for Istanbul because all products that goes from Asia and Middle East toward Europe must pass through this city, so a lot of traffic passes over this bridge everyday.

There are several options for travelers to choose from when traveling between the two sides of the Bosphorus. There are buses, ferries, trains and cars that travel along the Bosphorus.

Buses are the most popular form of transportation in Istanbul, but they can be uncomfortably crowded and can get stuck in traffic. Alternatively, there are ferries that offer a unique way to see Istanbul from a different perspective.

The city is also home to a number of bridges and tunnels that cross the Bosphorus for vehicular traffic. These include the Eurasia Tunnel, opened in December 2016. The Marmaray tunnel, which crosses between the European and Asian sides of Istanbul, is a proposed three-level road-rail undersea tunnel.

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