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The Golden Horn Metro Bridge (Haliç Metro Köprüsü) crosses the Golden Horn in Istanbul, Turkey.
Design and Construction of the Golden Horn Metro Bridge
The bridge was designed by Turkish architect Hakan Kıran and French engineer Michel Virlogeux. It’s 936 meters (3,071 feet) in length and 12.6 meters (41 feet) in width. The longest span between the two towers is 180 m (590 ft).
The original height of the towers threatened the UNESCO World Heritage status of Istanbul’s old city. It was supposed to be 82 meters (269 feet), but it was eventually lowered to 65 meters (213 feet).
On the Küçükpazarı side, a 120 meter (390 foot) swing bridge allows large ships to pass. It gives a 40 meter (130 foot) clearance within 4 to 6 minutes. The swing bridge is controlled from a room on a platform between the bridge and the shoreline.
Construction on the bridge started on January 2, 2009. It was completed on January 9, 2013, and finally went into service on February 15, 2014. During construction, the discovery of a Byzantine basilica and cemetery on the Küçükpazarı side forced designers to make revisions on the project.
Haliç Metro Station
The Haliç metro station is in the middle of the bridge. It allows the M2 metro line to cross over the Golden Horn. The platform is 180 meters (590 feet) long, allowing enough space to hold an 8-car train. It has a capacity of one million passengers per day. There are exits to both sides of the Golden Horn, in the Azapkapı area of Karaköy to the north and Küçükpazarı to the south.
Walking Across the Bridge
The bridge can also be used as a pedestrian bridge. There are wonderful views from both sides. It’s possible to spot many important landmarks in the old city, including Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace.
