Gönül Bridge Explained

Bridge Name:Gönül Bridge
Crosses:Bay of Ayvalık
Length:300m (1,000feet)
Width:200NaN0
Begin:June 2016[1]
Open:15 April 2017
Cost:$4.2 million
Toll:None
Replaces:Ayvalık-Cunda causeway
Coordinates:39.3439°N 26.6844°W

Gönül Bridge (Turkish: Gönül Köprüsü), also known as Cunda Bridge (Turkish: Cunda Köprüsü) is a 300m (1,000feet) long solid-arch bridge that crosses the Ayvalık Bay in Ayvalık, Turkey. The bridge connects mainland Anatolia to Lale Island, which in turn connects to Cunda Island via the Ayvalık Strait Bridge.

The bridge replaced a causeway, built in 1964, in order to open up natural water flow into the Aegean Sea. Construction of the bridge started on 6 June 2016 and was expected to be complete by 6 December 2016 at a cost of $2.8 million (10 million).[2] However, due to geological problems, the opening was delayed by four months and the cost increased to $4.2 million (₺15 million), with the addition of 277 new bores.[3]

The length of the stone bridge will be with a width of and will consist of four stone arches. Along with the two lanes for automobile traffic, the bridge will also include lanes for pedestrian and bicycle traffic.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ayvalık'ta Cunda Köprüsü Hizmete Girdi . 15 April 2017 . 29 September 2017 . Turkish . The Cunda Bridge in Ayvalık has opened.
  2. Web site: Ayvalık Cunda Adası'na Gönül Köprüsü . 6 June 2016 . 17 March 2017 . Turkish . A new bridge to Ayvalık's Cunda Island.
  3. Web site: Cunda Köprüsü '350 fore kazık' üzerinde yükseliyor! . 17 November 2016 . 17 March 2017 . Turkish . 350 bores will hold up the new Cunda Bridge!.