Turkey’s 1915 Çanakkale Bridge has achieved a significant milestone by winning the top award in the “Global Best Projects” competition organized by Engineering News-Record (ENR), one of the most prestigious publications in the engineering world.

Initiated by the Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure’s General Directorate of Highways and executed by a joint venture comprising Turkish companies Limak and Yapı Merkezi, along with South Korean firms DL E&C and SK ecoplant, the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge Project was recognized as the best in the “Bridge and Tunnel” category in the 2023 ENR Global Best Projects Awards.

This year, the competition received a record number of engineering project submissions from every continent except Antarctica. The entries were meticulously evaluated based on criteria such as teamwork, overcoming challenges, safety, innovation, societal contributions, construction quality, craftsmanship, functionality, and aesthetic quality in design.

The jury, consisting of experts from various fields, including airports, education, healthcare, public infrastructure, military projects, manufacturing, cultural venues, roads, highways, dams, sports facilities, and entertainment spaces, recognized 31 projects from 23 different countries that serve as global exemplars due to their innovative approaches and unwavering commitment. In this context, 1915Çanakkale Bridge secured the top spot in the “Bridge and Tunnel” category.

The 1915 Çanakkale Bridge previously gained international recognition during its construction in 2021 when it was featured in a special section of ENR magazine, with a breathtaking photograph capturing the bridge’s 318-meter height gracing the magazine’s cover.

Furthermore, in May 2023, 1915Çanakkale Bridge and Highway received the top honor in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s Public-Private Partnership and Infrastructure Awards, not only for its environmental and social contributions but also for its significant role in promoting the circular economy. To date, the 1915Çanakkale Bridge has received a total of 22 awards in various categories, including 12 financial awards, 2 environmental and social awards, 4 employment awards, and 4 engineering awards on esteemed international platforms.

The ENR Global Best Projects Awards will be presented to the winners through an online ceremony in December.

About 1915Çanakkale Bridge:

The 1915Çanakkale Bridge, with a central span of 2023 meters, achieved a world record and marked a total length of 4608 meters. The bridge’s central span symbolizes the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, while its 318-meter steel towers commemorate the date of the Çanakkale Victory on March 18, 1915. With their red and white colors representing the Turkish flag, the bridge towers ascend to 334 meters, adorned with replicas of artillery shells, reminiscent of Seyit Onbaşı, an iconic figure from the War of Independence. Consequently, the 1915Çanakkale Bridge proudly holds the title of the world’s highest suspension bridge towers. The foundation for the bridge was laid on March 18, 2017, the 102nd anniversary of the Battle of Çanakkale, and it was officially inaugurated on March 18, 2022, by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

About Çanakkale Otoyol ve Köprüsü İnşaat Yatırım ve İşletme A.Ş. (ÇOK A.Ş.):

Çanakkale Otoyol ve Köprüsü İnşaat Yatırım ve İşletme A.Ş. (ÇOK A.Ş.) was established in 2017 to carry out the 1915Çanakkale Bridge and Highway Project. This project encompasses an 89-kilometer highway, including the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, and a 12-kilometer connecting road between Malkara and Çanakkale. The joint venture for ÇOK A.Ş. consists of four equal partners: Limak and Yapı Merkezi from Turkey, and DL E&C and SK ecoplant from South Korea. Yapı Merkezi, founded in 1965, and Limak, established in 1976, are prominent Turkish construction companies known for their significant domestic and international projects. DL E&C, founded in 1939, and SK ecoplant, established in 1977, are renowned South Korean construction firms with a history of large-scale general contracting projects.

For more information, you can visit the official website of 1915 Çanakkale Bridge.