Asia and Europe is Connected Again With 3rd Bridge
The last floor of Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge connecting Europe and Asia for the third time is placed in the ceremony President Erdoğan, Prime Minister Davutoğlu and Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communication Binali Yıldırım attended. President Erdoğan, Prime Minister Davutoğlu and Minister of Transport Yıldırım welded the last floor together.
A historic moment has occurred in the 3rd Bosporus Bridge and Northern Marmara Motorway Project, which is carried out by ICA. 3. After placing the last steel floor of Bosporus Bridge, European and Asian sides of Istanbul is connected again. Along with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communication Binali Yıldırım, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Berat Albayrak, Minister of Environment and Urban Planning Fatmagül Demet Sarı, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Kadir Topbaş, Governor of Istanbul Vasip Şahin, General Director of Highways İsmail Kartal, IC Holding Chairman of the Board İbrahim Çeçen, ICA Chairman of the Board Fırat Çeçen and bridge workers attended the ceremony.
First off, President Erdoğan and Prime Minister Davutoğlu walked to the middle of 1408 meter long main span with the committee. They obtained information about work from authorities.
The first speaker of the ceremony Minister of Transport, Maritime and Communication Binali Yıldırım reminded that the continents are connected for the third time and said:
"Thanks to the stability and powerful government in Turkey for the last 13 years, we complete the projects that the world admire enviously and that will move Turkey to 2023, 100th year of Turkish Republic. Prime contractors of this bridge are Turkish and subcontractors are foreigner. Back then, Japanese, British and Korean people were building and we were serving them. But now, Turkish contractors are building and they serve as subcontractors. This shows Turkey's change, transition and the distance covered.” Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu underlined that Turkey left its mark on agenda of the world positively once again with the 3rd Bridge. He said: “This is an important project for the world. We are talking about a bridge that connects Europe and Asia and it’s a first across the world. Asia and Europe is connected once again. Our nation that left their mark on history with their big journey between Asia and Europe leave their mark once again with their own engineers, workers, hand labors and minds. May this mark stay forever. May this mark connect two continents not just by a bridge, but by a bridge of heart.”
President Erdoğan implied that he is honored to place the last floor of this project that is a “star” for Istanbul. He said: “There is no other suspension bridge as long as this one in the world. This is our cause of pride. Minister of transport informed us about August. I hope all the viaducts will be completed in August and we will open them together.”
After the speeches, participants moved to the area where 9 meter long last steel floor is placed. 3. President Erdoğan, Prime Minister Davutoğlu and Minister of Transport Yıldırım welded the last floor.
After welding, President Erdoğan thanked to everybody who contributed to 3rd Bridge He said “Thanks to the Prime Minister, Ministers, everybody from architects to the workers. Thanks to prime contractor for their efforts on behalf of myself and my nation. May Allah bless you. With this step and our prayers, May Allah's blessing be upon us."