Halil Rıfat Pasha Tunnel

Halil Rıfat Paşa Tunnel is a road tunnel located within the boundaries of Dereli district, in the Giresun province of Türkiye’s Black Sea Region. It lies on the route connecting Tunnel with the districts of Şebinkarahisar, Alucra, and Çamoluk, along the Giresun–Sivas road corridor. The tunnel is approximately 35 meters long. Construction began in 1885 under the initiative of Halil Rıfat Paşa, the then Governor of Sivas. The tunnel remains open to vehicular traffic today, just as it was upon completion, and continues to serve transportation purposes.

Halil Rıfat Paşa Tunnel (AA)

^Purpose of Construction and Historical Context

The Halil Rıfat Paşa Tunnel is situated on the road route linking the provincial center of Giresun with the districts of Şebinkarahisar, Alucra, and Çamoluk, providing access to Central Anatolia. It was constructed to facilitate transportation along this route. Built during the late 19th century under the Ottoman Empire, the tunnel formed part of a road that established a vital connection between Giresun and the Kelkit Valley.

The geographical area where the tunnel is located features steep and rocky terrain. As such, the location chosen for the tunnel was critical to maintaining the continuity of the road route. Its construction enabled a regular land connection between the Black Sea coastal region and the interior areas. In this context, the tunnel was regarded as an important passage point within the transportation infrastructure projects of the period.

Construction Process and the Role of Halil Rıfat Paşa

Construction of the tunnel began in 1885, initiated by Halil Rıfat Paşa, the Governor of Sivas at the time. The region’s steep and rocky topography made passage impossible without an excavation. Therefore, the tunnel’s creation became essential to ensure the uninterrupted flow of the road.

Construction relied entirely on manual labor. Workers used hand tools such as hammers and chisels to carve through the rock. Due to the hardness of the stone, progress was slow and difficult. Halil Rıfat Paşa instructed officials who wished to halt the work that even if only a single akçe’s worth of rock was removed each day, the work must continue. He reportedly issued the directive: “The place you cannot reach is not yours.” As a result of this determination, the tunnel was completed, and it is said that upon its completion, Paşa declared, “Now Giresun is ours.”

Architectural and Structural Features

The Halil Rıfat Paşa Tunnel is approximately 35 meters in length. Its width was designed to accommodate a horse-drawn cart. The structure was built using stone, with no machinery or advanced equipment employed during construction. Only hand tools such as hammers and chisels were used.

The tunnel was constructed entirely through human labor, in accordance with the technical and physical capabilities of the period. Due to the challenging geographical conditions, its location was deemed necessary to ensure the continuity of the transportation route. Since its completion, the tunnel has remained in continuous use and has preserved its original structural integrity.

Halil Rıfat Paşa Tunnel (AA)

Current Condition

The Halil Rıfat Paşa Tunnel has been in uninterrupted use for transportation since its completion. Today, it remains part of the Giresun–Sivas road and is open to vehicular traffic. According to a 2017 report by the Anadolu Agency, the tunnel’s structural integrity has been preserved. TRT News has emphasized that the tunnel has been in service for approximately 135 years.

The tunnel’s durability and functionality are vital to maintaining the continuity of the region’s transportation infrastructure.

Oral History and Narratives

One historical account associated with the tunnel’s construction is Halil Rıfat Paşa’s instruction to workers: “The place you cannot reach is not yours.” It is also reported that after the tunnel’s completion, Paşa declared, “Now Giresun is ours.” These statements are part of the historical narratives that reflect the significance of the tunnel’s construction and its importance to the region.

Halil Rıfat Paşa Tunnel (AA)

Conservation and Restoration Efforts

Periodic maintenance and repair works have been carried out to preserve the tunnel’s structural integrity and ensure its continued use. These efforts aim to sustain the tunnel’s physical resilience and enable its ongoing function in transportation. The goal of restoration activities is to protect the tunnel’s original structural characteristics and ensure its safety.