As a city consisting of two parts, European and Asian, we can say that Istanbul is divided in two. However, if we take into account the excellent traffic connections of these parts, it may not be most correct to speak of divisions as well. Istanbul is connected in several ways, and here are a few words about the bridges that connect it…
Across the Bosphorus there are three bridges: the Bosphorus Bridge (recently the Bridge of Victims), the Bridge of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror and the Bridge of Sultan Selim the Terrible.
The first, the Bosphorus Bridge, was built from 1970 to 1973 and connects the settlements of Ortakoy and Beylerbeyi, first on the European side and second on the Asian side of the city. It is estimated that about 200,000 vehicles cross it daily, and the bridge itself is one of the most recognizable buildings in the city and one of its most beautiful ornaments, especially at night when the lights on the bridge are turned on.
According to historical facts, the construction of such a bridge itself existed 2,500 years ago when there was a conflict between the Persians and Greece. It is believed that the Persians built a pontoon bridge with the intention of invading Greece and thus expanding their dominance across Europe. It should be emphasized that the bridge at that time was not actually a bridge, but the Persians used various aids to create a "bridge" that served to cross over to Europe.
The decision to build a bridge over the Bosphorus was made by Prime Minister Adnan Menderes in 1957, and was completed on October 30, 1973.
The famous Bosphorus Bridge, which connects the European and Asian parts according to the stories and legends of the old locals, carries a great warmth and landmark. Tradition says that anyone who visits Istanbul as an inevitable part of the visit must pass under a bridge in order to be happy in love forever. Locals also call it the bridge of love because it connects two continents, so it is believed that it contributes to the connection of two people and love.
The second bridge was named after Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, an Ottoman sultan who entered Istanbul in 1453. The bridge is not crucial for intra-city traffic, but for connecting Istanbul with other cities, so on the one hand you can use it to go to Edirne in the European part of Turkey or continue to the capital, Ankara, in the Anatolian / Asian part. Due to the large number of suicides, crossing the pedestrian bridge is not allowed on any of the bridges, and tolls are not charged.
The third bridge, or Sultan Selim the Terrible Bridge, is the newest bridge built across the Bosphorus, located far from the city center and connecting the Istanbul settlement of Sarijer in the European part and Pojrazka in the Asian part of the city. It is 1.4 km long, 59 m wide, has 8 lanes and a two-way railway. It opened in mid-2016, and its construction cost about $ 3 billion. Due to the high toll, everyone who can try to avoid using this bridge. If you use the transport from the New Airport to Sabiha Gokcen Airport, you will take a bus over this bridge because, although it may not seem so at first, the journey is shortened by more than an hour.
