Bolu Tunnel is a 3.2 kilometers long tunnel being constructed through the Bolu Mountain in Turkey. When finished the tunnel will reduce travel time between İstanbul and Ankara. Completion is projected for the end of 2006.

The tunnel is being build as part of the Gümüşova-Gerede Highway project by the Turkish Bayındır and Italian Astaldi joint venture since 1993. The total cost of the tunnel is expected to be around 300 million dollars. The tunnel has twin bores, 17 meters wide and will accommodate two lanes of traffic in each direction.

The tunnel crosses the North Anatolian Fault and the November 12, 1999 Düzce earthquake (Mw=7.2) caused substantial damage to the Bolu Tunnel and viaducts, which were under construction at the time of the earthquake.

Construction Progress

• On September 4, 2005 the excavation for the right tunnel is finished.
• The excavation for the left tunnel is finished in the beginning of August 2005.

External links

• http://gees.usc.edu/GEES/RecentEQ/Turkey_Duzce/Reports/Tunnel/tunnel.htm