Long-span suspension bridges in Turkey
Bosphorus Bridge
July Martyrs Bridge
1973
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Bill Brown oversaw the design and structural engineering of the Bosphorus Bridge. The design followed that of the breakthrough Severn Bridge and incorporated an aerodynamic box deck and towers with internal fixings for ease of construction and maintenance.
It was constructed in record time, taking 400 workers and 35 engineers just over three years to complete. The bridge opening in 1973 attracted a crowd of over one million.
It became the bridge with the longest main span in Europe (1,074m) and fourth longest in the world.
Second Bosphorus Bridge
Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge
1988
In the 1980s, Bill Brown oversaw the design and structural engineering of the Second Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul.
The first bridge (opened in 1973) was such a success that it was soon apparent a second would be needed. Bill and his colleagues at Freeman Fox set to work on devising a scheme that would be located a few kilometres further to the north. By 1985 Bill had left the firm and the following year became ‘Engineer for Construction’ of the bridge working directly for the Turkish Ministry of Works. He would be based in Istanbul during the 30 months of construction from 1986 to 1988. The construction was a triumph, carried out by a multinational consortium of Turkish, Japanese, British and Italian firms.
Izmit Bay Osmangazi Bridge
2016
NEED COPY Thomas Telford designed and built all types of infrastructure; from churches to castles, canals to harbours, tunnels to roads and bridges. Menai Bridge was probably Telford’s most acclaimed achievement. It was the first iron suspension bridge of its kind in the world and it established the potential of suspension bridge technology to achieve both long and high spans. Telford designed the central span of the roadway, 176m long and 30m above water level, to be carried by 16 wrought-iron chains, each made of 935 iron bars (since replaced by steel chains).
The bridge was a massive improvement in communication, not only for the people travelling to Ireland via Holyhead, but also for the locals. For the first time, they could cross with their livestock to and from the mainland without fear of perishing in the fast-flowing, dangerous waters of the Menai Strait.
Third Bosphorus Bridge
Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge
2016
NEED COPY Thomas Telford designed and built all types of infrastructure; from churches to castles, canals to harbours, tunnels to roads and bridges. Menai Bridge was probably Telford’s most acclaimed achievement. It was the first iron suspension bridge of its kind in the world and it established the potential of suspension bridge technology to achieve both long and high spans. Telford designed the central span of the roadway, 176m long and 30m above water level, to be carried by 16 wrought-iron chains, each made of 935 iron bars (since replaced by steel chains).
The bridge was a massive improvement in communication, not only for the people travelling to Ireland via Holyhead, but also for the locals. For the first time, they could cross with their livestock to and from the mainland without fear of perishing in the fast-flowing, dangerous waters of the Menai Strait.
Çanakkale Dardanelles Crossing
Due to open in 2023
In 2022 there will be a new world record for the longest main-span suspension bridge. After decades of planning and four years of construction the 1915Çanakkale Bridge over the Dardanelles Strait in north west Turkey will open for traffic. At 2,023m main span it will succeed the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge in Japan and be a glorious celebration of the development of Turkey.
The official opening will be in 2023 to mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey. It will also be the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Bosphorus Bridge (18th July Martyrs’ Bridge) in Istanbul, the first bridge to link Europe and Asia.
If someone asks you: What is the world’s longest span bridge? You will soon be able to say: “the 1915Çanakkale Bridge over the Dardanelles Strait”.