World Bank shows interest in railway project on Third Bosphorus Bridge, says minister

The World Bank has expressed keen interest in the railway project on Istanbul's Third Bosphorus Bridge, also known as the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said Tuesday.

"The World Bank has indicated that they would support a 3 billion euro or dollar package as a result of the negotiations we have been conducting for an extended period," Uraloğlu said.

Speaking at the International Road Federation (IRF) World Congress 2024 in Istanbul, Uraloğlu highlighted the project's significance as part of the broader Development Road initiative, which aims to connect Asia to Europe.

Uraloğlu emphasized Türkiye's strategic geographical position, calling it "a natural bridge between the Eastern and Western trade corridors, as well as in the Middle corridor, extending from Caucasian countries and Central Asia to Africa."

The minister outlined several major infrastructure projects, including the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the Eurasia Tunnel, and the Marmaray rail line in Istanbul. He added that work continues on new projects to develop the Middle corridor.

The Development Road project, planned for completion in 2030, will enable uninterrupted rail and road travel "from the Grand Faw Port in Iraq to London," Uraloğlu said. Project includes constructing 1,200 kilometers (over 745 miles) of highway and railway from the Iraqi port to Türkiye.

"We are developing our railway network infrastructure by constructing a 2,094-kilometer railway route and a 1,923-kilometer highway route for the Development Road project," he added, noting that construction is set to begin in early 2025.

Uraloğlu also highlighted Türkiye's current high-standard road network, which spans 68,494 kilometers (42,560...