An Italo-Turkish consortium formed by Italian general contractor Astaldi and Turkey's Ictas has been awarded a contract worth TRY 4.5 billion to build the Odayeri-Pasakoy section of the North Marmara highway project, which includes the third bridge to be built over the Bosphorus, as reported by international news agencies. Salini-Gulermak, another Italo-Turkish consortium, was in the running to win the tender until notification of the final decision.
The new bridge over the Bosphorus will be 1.3 km long and will link the Asian and European sides of the Bosphorus strait north of Istanbul, connecting Poyrazkoy and Garipçe. Construction works will begin at the end of the year, with the bridge expected to be completed within 36 months. The new bridge, which will also carry trains, is part of the North Marmara highway project which spans 414 km between Tekirdag in Turkey's European zone and Adapazari on the Asian side. 96 km of the 414 km have been assigned to the Astaldi-Ictas consortium.