One of the longest suspension bridges in the world has generated a combined TL 211 billion (over $4.5 billion) in fuel and time savings for Türkiye since it was launched a decade ago, a senior official said Wednesday.
Osmangazi Bridge, spanning the Gulf of Izmit at its narrowest point, was opened to traffic on July 1, 2026, to become the centerpiece of the 426-kilometer Istanbul-Izmir Highway.
It significantly cuts down travel time between Istanbul and the western provinces by bypassing the long drive around the gulf or the need to wait for car ferries.
Stretching more than 2.6 kilometers (about 1.6 miles) in total, it lowered travel times across the gulf from up to 1.5 hours by road or 45-60 minutes by ferry to just six minutes.
"The bridge has delivered approximately TL 40 billion in fuel savings and TL 171 billion in time savings over the past 10 years, bringing the total economic benefit to TL 211 billion," Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said.
