The Bosphorus Bridge Size report
There are a total of three bridges across the Bosphorus Strait, which were opened to traffic in 1973, 1988, and 2016. The Bosphorus Bridge usually refers to the suspension bridge built in Istanbul, Turkey, which started in 1968. The bridge, also known officially as the 15 July Martyrs Bridge (Turkish: 15 Temmuz Şehitler Köprüsü), was built at the narrowest part of the Bosphorus Strait.
The Bosphorus Bridge was officially opened to traffic in October 1973 and was the first sea-crossing bridge across the Bosphorus Strait, connecting the two continents of Asia and Europe. The Bosphorus Strait bisects Istanbul, Turkey's largest city. The bridge spans the strait and connects the city as a whole.
The bridge costs over $20 billion, but the cost is worth it because now people can safely cross to the other side. The Bosphorus Bridge has also become one of Istanbul's most important tourist attractions. It is ranked at an advanced level in terms of length worldwide. In this post, let's learn more about the incredible size of the Bosphorus Bridge.
Description of The Bosphorus Bridge Size
In 1968, construction of the first bridge across the Bosphorus began. The Bosphorus Bridge connects the cities divided by the straits and connects the two continents of Europe and Asia. It consists of 3 lanes for cars and 2 lanes for special vehicles. In the original design, paths were originally provided for pedestrians. But the entrance to the walkway was closed a few years after it was built. The reason is a wave of suicides, with mentally unstable people drawn to the Bosphorus bridge like a magnet.
It is a suspension bridge. There is a "gate"-shaped bridge tower on each side of the strait, and there are no piers in the water. Two thick steel cables pull the entire bridge body; the bridge tower on the west bank weighs 60,000 tons, and the bridge tower on the east bank weighs 50,000 tons. The two bridge towers are 165 meters high and are connected to two 58-centimeter-thick steel cables, which are twisted with 11,300 five-millimeter steel wires.
Dimensions of the Bosphorus Bridge
On October 30, 1973, the first Bosphorus Bridge was opened to traffic. The bridge is 1,560 meters long and has a unique shape. The bridge spanning the water surface between the two tower bridges is 1,074 meters long, and the approach bridges at both ends are 255 meters and 231 meters, respectively. The bridge deck is 33 meters wide and 64 meters above the sea. All types of ships can pass under the bridge smoothly. At that time, it was the 1st largest suspension bridge in Europe and the 4th largest in the world.
| Facts | Size |
|---|---|
| Total Length | 1,560 m (5,118 ft) |
| Longest Span | 1,074 m (3,524 ft) |
| Width | 33 m (110 ft) |
| Clearance Below | 64 m (210 ft) |
| Tower Height | 165 m (541 ft) |
Conclusion
The Bosphorus Bridge spans both sides of the strait like a long rainbow, communicating the traffic and transportation between Europe and Asia. It facilitates the exchanges between the people of the two continents. The natural scenery of the strait, the historical sites, and the convenient transportation have made the Bosphorus one of the famous tourist attractions in Turkey; tourists from different parts of the world visit it at all times of the year.
