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.

General Project Information

• 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.

Technical Specifications

• 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.

Benefits Provided by the Project

• 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.

Project Construction Process and Opening to Service

• 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.

Benefits to the Local Population

• 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.

Social and Economic Impacts of the Project

• 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.