Eğribel Tunnel

The Eğribel Tunnel, located on the Giresun-Sivas route place, has been constructed as part of a transportation axis connecting the inner Anatolia and southern regions with Black Sea Region. The project was developed to eliminate the adverse conditions of the 2200-meter-high Eğribel Pass, which caused major transportation difficulties especially during winter season. Official reports indicate that the project has significantly improved traffic safety, comfort, and continuity in the region important.

• Project Name: Eğribel Tunnel
• Administration: General Directorate of Highways
• Project Location: On the Dereli-Şebinkarahisar state road within the boundaries of Giresun Province
• Project Status: Construction completed; opened to traffic as a twin-tube tunnel.
• Project Scope: Construction of the Eğribel Tunnel and connecting roads (including secondary works).
• Road Standards: First-class state highway.

• Tunnel Length: Total 11,800 meters (twin tubes, each 5,900 meters long).
• Connecting Roads: Total connecting road length of 1,777 meters, with 909 meters at the entrance and 868 meters at the exit.
• Tunnel Entrance and Exit Elevations: Entrance elevation 1,860 meters, exit elevation 1,720 meters (with a 2.86% gradient).
• Construction Method: New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM).
• Tunnel Dimensions: Cross-section of 8×5 meters.

• Safe year-round transportation will be ensured without being affected by the adverse weather conditions of the Eğribel Pass.
• The route has been shortened by 6.5 kilometers compared to the previous alignment.
• An approximate time saving of 20–25 minutes has been achieved.
• The project is expected to positively contribute to trade, economy, industry, and tourism in the region.

• In the first phase, the right tube was opened to two-way traffic on 1 December 2022 to ensure mobility during winter conditions.
• After completion of upper-structure works—including asphalt paving, electronic systems, and lighting—the left tube was opened to traffic on 1 November 2023, enabling the project to operate at full capacity.

• Transportation problems in the region, previously caused by frequent closures of the Eğribel Pass due to snow, blizzards, and avalanches, have been largely resolved.
• While travel times previously reached up to 18 hours, they have now been reduced to approximately 1.5 hours following the tunnel’s opening.
• Access to healthcare services has improved, enabling safer and faster transportation of patients to hospitals.
• Transportation difficulties that previously occurred even in May and June during harsh winter conditions on the Eğribel Pass have been eliminated thanks to the tunnel.
• Fuel consumption in the region has decreased, resulting in significant economic savings.

• With the completion of the Eğribel Tunnel, the regional economy has been revitalized and its commercial potential has increased.
• According to local residents, the tunnel’s opening has significantly improved the quality of social life by making transportation safer.
• The construction of the tunnel is regarded by the local population as the realization of a 60-year-old dream.