On Friday, 18 October, Rönesans Holding celebrated the financial closing of the Nakkaş-Başakşehir section of the Northern Marmara Motorway Project in Türkiye, marking a significant milestone for the region. This ambitious project has garnered an investment of €1.43 billion and aims to improve east-west connectivity in Istanbul by bypassing the city’s congested road network.
The motorway will not only facilitate smoother travel between the Asian and European sides of Istanbul but will also enhance access to the city’s new airport through a dedicated toll road. This development is anticipated to benefit commuters, businesses, and logistics operators by significantly reducing travel times and transportation costs while also improving road safety and alleviating congestion.
Spanning 31.3 kilometres, the motorway includes a 1.6-kilometre cable-stayed bridge along with several overpasses and underpasses. Advanced tolling systems and sustainable construction techniques are integral components of the project, which stands as one of Türkiye’s largest investments in road infrastructure.
Erman Ilıcak, President of Rönesans Holding, expressed pride in the project, stating, “We’re proud to be setting a new standard for transportation in Türkiye with the Nakkaş-Başakşehir Project. Our consortium partners, led by Samsung C&T Corporation, have shown immense confidence in us throughout this journey and their investment in Türkiye is invaluable. This motorway will drastically cut travel times for individuals and businesses in Istanbul, and it also elevates the country’s sustainable development efforts. Built with people, society, and the environment in mind, we hope to see this model replicated in global infrastructure projects.”
Se Chul Oh, President and CEO of Samsung C&T, highlighted the project’s significance in fostering economic cooperation between Türkiye and South Korea. He stated, “The K-Team is producing meaningful outcomes, leveraging skilled techniques and policy support from public organisations, including the Korean Expressway Corporation. We will continue this momentum to create more cooperative opportunities in Türkiye, CIS, and Eastern European markets.”
Sustainability is a core focus of the Nakkaş-Başakşehir design. A 2MW Solar Energy Generating System will be implemented, supplying clean energy to the motorway’s operations and management centre, as well as service stations. The project will replace over 4,500 sodium lights with energy-efficient LEDs, expected to reduce energy consumption by approximately 37.5% during its lifetime. All operational vehicles will be hybrid or electric, projected to save around 112,000 litres of fuel annually.
Overall, the motorway project aims to save 7.9 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over 30 years, significantly reducing pollutants such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide.
Developed under a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, the Nakkaş-Başakşehir section involves several prominent international partners, including KIND, KDB KIAMCO, and Korea Expressway Corporation. The project is funded by various international institutions, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the Islamic Development Bank.
To date, Rönesans Holding, along with partners such as GIC, Meridiam Infrastructure, and TotalEnergies, has invested over €8 billion into projects both in Türkiye and worldwide.