Çeşmeli-Kızkalesi Highway

The Çeşmeli-Kızkalesi Section of the Çeşmeli-Erdemli-Silifke-Taşucu Highway Project starts at the Çeşmeli Junction of the existing Mersin-Adana-Gaziantep Highway, runs to the north of the Erdemli and Kızkalesi settlements parallel to the D400 (Mersin-Antalya) State Road, and ends by connecting to the D400 State Road at the Kızkalesi Junction. Including its connection roads, the project consists of a total of 52 km.

Having received a positive EIA (ÇED) decision on 23.05.2017, the project is a continuation of the TAG (Tarsus-Adana-Gaziantep) Highway currently in operation and will complete the highway connection between Mersin, Adana, Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa.

The project is 52 km long in total, comprising 41 km of main road and 11 km of connection and side roads. The main components of the highway include engineering structures such as junctions, overpasses, underpasses, viaducts, bridges, tunnels and culverts, together with operating facilities (toll collection system, service areas, etc.).

Along the route there are 5 connection roads, 24 overpasses, 33 underpasses, 5 viaducts, 7 tunnels, 7 bridges and 73 culverts.

Traffic density on state and provincial roads in Türkiye increases considerably during the summer months. This density is even higher on the road connections to provinces such as Mersin, which is also a tourism region. Rising traffic brings a significant increase in traffic accidents as well. The number of accidents, fatalities and injuries, which is higher between May and October, peaks in July, August and September when traffic is heaviest. Expected to absorb most of the transit traffic on the existing state road, the project will reduce the traffic density experienced on state roads during the summer. Along its route, the project will create a highly attractive alternative to the existing state roads, offering transit, high-standard, comfortable, safe and shorter travel.

Tourism, industry and agriculture in the region will be revitalized. With the completion of the Kızkalesi-Taşucu Section planned for the next phase, Taşucu Port will become a viable alternative, thereby easing the congestion at Mersin Port. Access to Çukurova Airport, which opened on 10 August 2024, will also become easier, contributing to the development of tourism in the region. In addition, the presence of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in the area — expected to increase the population by roughly 200,000 people — together with the region's growth, has created a need for new transport solutions, and this need will be met upon completion of the project.