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The Golden Horn Metro Bridge (Haliç Metro Köprüsü) allows the M2 metro line to cross the Golden Horn in Istanbul, Turkey.
The Haliç metro station is in the middle of the bridge. There are exits to both sides of the Golden Horn, at Azapkapı and Unkapanı. It can also be used as a pedestrian bridge.
There are wonderful views from the bridge on both sides. It’s possible to spot many important landmarks in the old city, including Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace.
Design
The Golden Horn Metro 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 original height of the towers threatened the UNESCO World Heritage status of Istanbul’s old city. It was supposed to be 85 meters (269 feet), but it was eventually lowered to 47 meters (154 feet).
Construction
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 forced designers to make revisions on the project.
