Kızılcahamam Çerkeş Tunnel

The Kızılcahamam-Çerkeş Tunnel is a infrastructure project connecting Kızılcahamam district of Ankara with Çerkeş district of Çankırı. Tunnel is located on the Güvem-Çerkeş route between Ankara and Istanbul and aims to make the previously difficult route, due to its high altitude and challenging winter conditions, safer, more comfortable and fast. With the implementation of the project, the existing 6-kilometer route has been reduced from 6 kilometers to 3.6 kilometers thanks to the 2,071-meter-long tunnel.

• Tunnel Length: 2,071 metres.
• Main Road Length: 3,600 metres.
• Connecting Road Length: 2,400 metres.
• Total Route Shortening: 2.4 kilometres.
• Reduction in Travel Time: Reduced from 15 minutes to 3 minutes.

The Kızılcahamam-Çerkeş Tunnel was inaugurated on 27 February 2021 in a ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan via video conference. At the opening, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu, Ankara Governor Vasip Shahin, members of parliament from Ankara and Çankırı, Kızılcahamam District Governor Can Aksoy and Municipality President Süleyman Acar like were also present.

• Improved Accessibility: The reduction in travel time between Ankara and Çerkeş district of Çankırı has enabled local residents to travel more quickly and safely.
• Safety in Winter Conditions: Difficult travel conditions during winter months, caused by high altitude and steep gradients, have been largely eliminated thanks to the tunnel.
• Economic and Touristic Development: The tunnel has contributed to the economic, cultural and touristic development of Kızılcahamam by boosting trade and tourist activity in the region.
• Impact on the Logistics Sector: Congestion and traffic bottlenecks caused by heavy vehicles have decreased, creating a more efficient and cost-effective route for the logistics industry.

The Kızılcahamam-Çerkeş Tunnel was constructed as part of Türkiye’s goal to improve its transport infrastructure. By significantly important travel time and enhancing safety, the tunnel is regarded as a step toward modernizing land road transport in the region.