Motorway 5, highway in Turkey
Motorway 5 is a toll road in Turkey that links six provinces, running from Kocaeli in the northwest down to Izmir in the southwest. Along the way it crosses the Gulf of Izmit via a suspension bridge and passes through the provinces of Bursa, Balikesir, and Manisa.
Construction of the motorway began in the early 2010s as part of a national effort to improve road connections between Istanbul and the southwest of Turkey. The first section opened in 2016 and the full route was completed in 2019.
The road passes through regions that feel very different from one another, moving from the industrial outskirts of Kocaeli to the olive-growing plains near Izmir. Rest stops along the way give travelers a chance to try local snacks and observe the mix of people using the route daily.
The motorway has fixed entry and exit points, so it helps to plan your route before setting off, especially if you want to reach a specific city. Rest stops with food and fuel are spread along the road and are useful for longer journeys.
The Osman Gazi Bridge, which carries the motorway across the Gulf of Izmit, had a main span of about 5,100 feet (1,550 meters) and was the fourth longest suspension bridge in the world when it opened in 2016. The bridge toll is charged separately from the rest of the motorway, so drivers pay at two different points depending on their direction of travel.
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