The travel time on the route covered in 40 minutes has reduced to 6 minutes.

The Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, stated that they have eliminated the 32 bends that posed a threat to road safety due to challenging weather conditions such as avalanches, snow, blizzards, and icing. He said, “We have brought Van and Hakkari even closer together. By removing the 32 bends with the tunnel and lowering the road elevation by 230 meters, we have reduced the travel time from 40 minutes to 6 minutes.”

The tunnel, known as the Güzeldere Pass, which is famous for the ’32 bends’ between Van and Hakkari, is being opened to traffic. A ceremony was held for the completed tunnel, which had turned into a struggle for drivers, especially during the winter months. Expressing his condolences regarding the earthquake in Malatya, Minister Uraloğlu stated, “I am very pleased to be here with you on the occasion of the opening of our Güzeldere Tunnel, which has removed the 32 bends, one of Turkey’s most challenging roads, from the dusty shelves of history. The Güzeldere Pass, where we have gathered today, is a historical location that has witnessed the interaction of many different civilizations and cultures such as the Urartians, Medes, Persians, Romans, Seljuks, and Ottomans for centuries along the historic Silk Road. Many caravans, migrating nations, and armies have passed through this passage, changing the course of history. By opening the tube of our Güzeldere Tunnel towards Van-Hakkari, we are witnessing a historic moment here. Because the adverse weather conditions experienced, especially during the winter months, were making transportation difficult and negatively affecting economic and social life. Today, by overcoming this challenging geography, we are not only strengthening the ties between our two cities but also opening a new chapter in the socio-economic structure of the region. We will also make significant contributions to the economic and social development of our people, whose sources of livelihood are based on border trade, livestock, and agriculture.”

Stating that the state road between Van and Hakkari has great importance for international trade activities as it provides access to border gates like Esendere, Umurlu, and Üzümlü leading to Iran and Iraq, Minister Uraloğlu said, “In this context, as the Ministry, we have projected and implemented the road, which is a divided road standard with hot bituminous mixture covering, between Güzelsu and Başkale, covering a distance of 61 km. Thank God, we are experiencing the joy of completing 38 kilometers of our road and opening the tube of our Güzeldere Tunnel, which is 3,150 meters long, towards Van-Hakkari. God willing, we will complete the other tube by the summer of 2025. We have bypassed the 9-kilometer 32 bends located in the Van Başkale Güzeldere Pass with a 4-kilometer variant and the Güzeldere Tunnel, making the route more comfortable. Thus, we have achieved a high standard by bypassing the road section where snow struggles are intensely conducted during the winter months, making transportation difficult. We have eliminated the 32 bends, which were a nightmare for drivers due to challenging weather conditions such as avalanches, snow, blizzards, and icing. We have brought Van and Hakkari even closer together. By removing the 32 bends with the tunnel and lowering the road elevation by 230 meters, we have reduced the travel time from 40 minutes to 6 minutes. Thus, thanks to our project, we will save 72.2 million lira in time and 73.5 million lira in fuel, totaling 145.7 million lira annually. We will also contribute to the preservation of the unique nature of the Güzeldere Pass and Van by reducing carbon emissions from polluting vehicles by 4,549 tons. Now, the harsh conditions of winter will not negatively affect the daily lives of our people in the region, the drivers using the road, and the truck drivers working in the transport sector. This will further revive border trade in the region and develop tourism activities,” he said.

“We all know very well the strategic importance of the transport and infrastructure sectors for the economic development of our country. A strong transportation infrastructure is the primary condition for economic growth,” Minister Uraloğlu continued his speech:

“Thanks to the road, investment comes, production occurs due to safe, fast, and easy transportation, trade develops, the country advances, the economy grows, and employment is created. In light of this reality, we have invested over 280 billion dollars in our country’s transportation and communication infrastructure in the last 22 years under the leadership of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. We have equipped our country with a high-standard road network without regard to east-west, north-south. In 2002, we had 6,101 km of divided roads, while today, 29,653 km of our total 68,549 km road network consists of divided roads, connecting 77 of our 81 provinces with divided roads. We have also increased our motorway network, which was 1,714 km in 2002, to 3,796 km with an additional 2,082 km built in the last 22 years. While only 50 kilometers of tunnels were constructed in approximately 80 years until 2002, we have increased this to 767 km. Similarly, we have increased our total bridge length from 311 km to 790 kilometers. From where to where. Just as we do for all of our country, we attach great importance to every project that will strengthen the transportation network in Van and closely monitor all of our projects. During the day, we will also inspect our Van Ring Road, which is as important as the Güzeldere Tunnel, where construction works are ongoing. Starting from Edremit and passing east of the city center of Van to connect to the Erciş Road, we have projected this road as a 41 km long, 6-lane divided road standard with hot bituminous mixture covering, with 3 lanes for each direction. When we complete and open our project, it will relieve the traffic congestion in the city center and establish high-standard transportation opportunities to the settlements in the region.”

Minister Uraloğlu stated that they would provide access to the border gates of regional provinces such as Gürbulak, Kapıköy, Esendere, Umurlu, and Üzümlü with the comfort of a divided road, saying, “When our Van ring road is completed, we will save a total of 1.6 billion lira annually, including 1.4 billion lira in time and 200 million lira in fuel. We will also contribute to the protection of nature by reducing carbon emissions from polluting vehicles by 15,000 tons. May it be auspicious and beneficial. With these thoughts, I wish that the Güzeldere Tunnel will be beneficial for all the people of the region and our country, especially for Van and Hakkari, and I thank all the employees of the General Directorate of Highways and the contracting company who contributed to this project and brought it to this important stage, from the workers to the engineers.”

After the prayer, the opening ribbon of the tunnel was cut.