Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, Suspension bridge in Istanbul, Turkey
Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Bosphorus in Istanbul, linking the European neighborhood of Hisarüstü with the Asian neighborhood of Kavacık. The steel structure runs 1,510 meters in length, stands 39 meters wide, and rises 110 meters above sea level to allow large ships to pass underneath.
Construction began in 1985 and the engineering consortium completed this second Bosphorus crossing by 1988. The opening reshaped the city's transport routes and expanded the connection between both continents following the first span built in the 1970s.
The structure carries the name of the Ottoman ruler who conquered the city and turned it into a crossroads between two continents. Today the crossing not only links both shores but also represents Istanbul's role as a gateway between Europe and Asia in the daily rhythm of the metropolis.
The crossing charges a toll for vehicles moving from the European to the Asian side, while the return journey remains free of charge. Pedestrians and cyclists cannot use the span, so travelers should plan alternative routes when moving between continents on foot or by bicycle.
The span carries eight traffic lanes and handles around 200,000 vehicles daily, making it one of the busiest crossings in the city. The towers rise high above the water and offer an illuminated landmark at night that remains visible from both shores of the Bosphorus.
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