Here is the latest situation in Izmir - Manisa Highway

Sabuncubeli, which is known for its sharp and long bends and ramps on the Izmir - Manisa highway, turns to the ice rink from time to time in winter, and the tunnels, which were started two years ago, to prevent frequent fatal and injurious accidents, are progressing rapidly. The tunnels, which will be put into service in three years, will reduce the 580 percent slope on the road to 8 percent and shorten the distance by one kilometer. Due to the soft clayey nature of the ground, workers dig for two hours and reinforce for 1.5 hours.
Sabuncubeli, known as the 'death road' with its sharp bends and steep ramps in the mountainous region that separates Izmir and Manisa from each other, poses a life-threatening danger especially in winter due to icing. The area where the vehicles will slide like soap will be By-Passed with 4 thousand 70 meters long tunnels. The foundations of the tunnels were laid in September 2011, when Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Minister Binali Yıldırım examined the construction of the tunnels last week. Koçoğlu İnşaat, which won the tender, determined the construction cost of the tunnels as 110 million TL, but the cost has already increased by 40 percent. Koçoğlu will deliver the tunnels, which it will operate for 13 years, including the construction period, to the General Directorate of Highways at the end of the term.
TUNNELING WITH NEEDLE
On the way from Izmir to Manisa, vehicles that will enter the tunnel around Beşyol Village will proceed on a two-lane road. Those who go from Manisa to Izmir will enter the tunnel near Karakoca Village. Due to the soft ground structure in İzmir's longest tunnels, 1.5 meters of excavation is carried out per day, and a total of 3 meters in two tubes. One of the tubes reached 403 meters and the other 350 meters. While the excavation work with the crusher takes two hours, reinforcement takes place in 10 hours. The tunnel is being dug with the new Austrian model. The material coming out of the tunnel drilled with a crusher is transported out of the tunnel by trucks. Support begins after the excavation. The inner structure of the tunnel is supported by two layers of steel mesh, 35 centimeters of shotcrete and 6 meters of rock bolts. During the excavations, where 10 engineers and 150 people work in three shifts, 400 cubic meters of soil and stone are removed per day, and these are transported by 25 trucks. 6 bored piling works have been completed at the entrance of the tunnel, which will be 156 meters high and eight meters wide, on the Manisa side, and excavations will begin next week. In the tunnel on the Manisa side, drainage channels will be created for the evacuation of water due to the fact that the land is saturated clay soil.
HORRIBLE WAY WILL BE A ENJOY WAY
Highways 2nd Regional Manager Abdülkadir Uraloğlu pointed out that the slope on the existing Sabuncubeli road is 8 percent and the slope in the tunnel will be 1.5 percent, and emphasized that the altitude will decrease from 580s to 370s. Uraloğlu said, “When the tunnels are completed, they will travel on an almost straight, high standard road without ramps or bends. The road of fear will turn into a path of pleasure. The region will get rid of heavy vehicle traffic. It will be the longest tunnels in Izmir. Tunnels will not only connect Izmir and Manisa. It will also be the gateway of Aydın and Muğla, one of the tourism centers of our country, to Istanbul and Europe. The economy of the Aegean Region will unite and grow ”.
14 VIRAJ WILL BE BY-PASS
There are 14 bends in Sabuncubeli Location on the Izmir-Manisa highway, which serves intensive passenger and freight transportation. Longitudinal inclination in bends is 9.5 percent. Sabuncubeli is known as the low standard road in this state. A safe and comfortable tunnel will be built by By-Pass with 14 bend tunnels. It is foreseen that 13 million lira savings will be achieved in the 50-year operating period by saving the accidents in the winter months at the Sabuncubeli bends, high cost maintenance and operating expenses and time.
TUNNEL 24 CLOCK CONTROL
Electric and electromagnetic works will be carried out after excavation and reinforcement in the tunnel. Tunnel ventilation fans, lighting, signaling, camera monitoring, fire detection and extinguishing systems will be installed. A control center will be built at the mouth of the Izmir entrance tunnel for monitoring all kinds of security systems. Tunnel, 24 hours will be kept under control, where necessary to be intervened.