Minister Uraloğlu: ‘Our highway network, which was 1,714 kilometers, has reached 3,726 kilometers’

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated, ‘Within the framework of the highway mobilization we have initiated, our highway network, which was 1,714 kilometers before 2003, has reached 3,726 kilometers.’ The opening of the Osmaniye West (Sakızgediği) Junction of the Tarsus-Adana-Gaziantep Highway was held. Minister Uraloğlu was accompanied by Osmaniye Governor Erdinç Yılmaz, Chair of the Human Rights Commission of the Parliament and AK Party Osmaniye Deputy Derya Yanık, and AK Party Osmaniye Deputy Seydi Gülsoy at the opening ceremony. Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, speaking at the opening, said, ‘With effective transportation policies initiated under the leadership of our President, we are implementing large investments for our country to have a strong economy. In this respect, after 2002, we have accomplished significant tasks in the field of transportation. We have increased the length of divided roads we inherited from 6,100 kilometers to approximately 29,405 kilometers, about 4.5 times. While we had 6 cities connected by divided roads, today we have connected 77 of our cities. We have transformed almost all of our main routes into divided roads. Within the framework of the highway mobilization we have initiated, our highway network, which was 1,714 kilometers before 2003, has reached 3,726 kilometers.’
‘Roads that will provide access to 38 thousand residences are rapidly being constructed.’ Minister Uraloğlu, who stated that the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş deeply affected him, said, ‘I would also like to mention our works on Akyar Earthquake Residences Connection and Zoning Roads, which is another important project in Osmaniye. As you know, last year on February 6, we experienced one of the most devastating disasters in the history of mankind. The earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, which directly affected approximately 14 million of our people, deeply saddened all of us. On this occasion, I extend my condolences to the brothers and sisters who lost their lives in earthquakes. Through our Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, with the support of the General Directorate of Highways; we are continuing the construction works of a total of 210 kilometers of connection and zoning roads in 15 different sections in cities affected by earthquakes such as Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Malatya, and Osmaniye, providing access to 38 thousand residences. We are carrying out road construction with a project cost of 887 million lira for 7.1 kilometers of road to provide access to 1,820 permanent residences in Osmaniye Akyar. We aim to complete the 6.6-kilometer section by the end of this year.’
‘We will introduce Osmaniye to high-speed train.’ Minister Uraloğlu, who said, ‘We will implement projects together for the bright future of Osmaniye,’ continued as follows: ‘The projects we have implemented to strengthen the transportation network of Osmaniye are not limited to land transportation. One of the most important ongoing railway projects in our country, the Mersin-Adana-Osmaniye-Gaziantep High-Speed Train Line, will introduce Osmaniye to high-speed train service. With the completion of our project; we will reduce the existing distance between Mersin-Adana-Osmaniye-Gaziantep from 361 kilometers to 312.5 kilometers, and the travel time from 6 hours 23 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes. We will implement all the projects we have planned together for the bright future of Osmaniye.’