Ovit Tunnel

Ovit Tunnel is a road tunnel constructed at the Ovit Pass on the İkizdere–İspir route connecting Rize with Erzurum. It is the second longest road tunnel in Türkiye. The project was first included in the Ottoman Empire’s 1880 Development Plan and, after a 138-year wait, was opened to traffic on 13 February 2018. The opening ceremony was attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The purpose of the Ovit Tunnel is to overcome the Ovit Pass, which due to harsh geographical conditions closes for approximately five months each year and becomes impassable, thereby ensuring year-round accessibility and usability of the Rize–Erzurum route through the tunnel.

Technical Specifications

• Location: Rize–Erzurum road (İkizdere–İspir section)
• Total Length: 14.3 kilometers
• Elevation: 2,640 meters
• Tunnel Structure: Twin-tube road tunnel
• Start and Completion Dates: 2012–2018
• Contractor: CMA Ovit
• Cement Used: 410,000 tons
• World Ranking: Third longest twin-tube road tunnel in the world

Benefits and Savings

• Due to the tunnel, the existing road route has been shortened by 4 kilometers.
• The opening of the Ovit Tunnel has resulted in annual savings of 15.5 million Turkish Lira:
• • 10.8 million Turkish Lira in time savings annually,
  • 4.7 million Turkish Lira in fuel consumption savings annually.
• Additionally, environmental benefits include an annual reduction of 965 tons of carbon emissions.

Strategic Importance

According to President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Ovit Tunnel is not merely a transportation link but also a point of critical strategic importance connecting the Black Sea region with East Anatolia, Southeastern Anatolia, Europe, and Central Asia via strategic. This feature is expected to significantly boost commercial activity in the region.

Historical Context and Significance

• First proposed in the 1880 Development Plan of the Ottoman Empire, the tunnel remained unrealized for many years.
• The project was officially launched in 2012 when President Erdoğan laid its foundation.
• Harsh geographical conditions, including heavy snowfall and avalanche risks, were overcome with the completion of the tunnel.

Construction Process and Details

• Media documented the high level of public excitement and interest in the project when visibility was achieved just meters before completion.
• Significant milestones in the tunnel’s construction were reached by 2016, and it was fully opened to traffic in 2018.

Impact on the Region

• Since the tunnel’s opening, access to Black Sea ports has improved significantly, leading to a marked increase in regional trade traffic.
• It has generated positive effects on the local economy and regional development.

The Ovit Tunnel project is regarded as one of the milestone achievements in Türkiye’s transportation infrastructure due to its historical significance and the benefits it provides.