Online survey to decide name for new Eurasia Tunnel

The name of the historic new Eurasia tunnel crossing underneath Istanbul's Bosphorus Strait will be chosen through an online poll starting today, said Turkey's transport, maritime affairs and communication minister Thursday.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Ahmet Arslan said the public will be able to choose names for the 14.6-kilometer (9 mile) tunnel through Dec. 10 by visiting his ministry's website at udhb.gov.tr.

The key task in its construction was drilling through over 3 km (1.86 mi) of rock in the Bosporus seabed for the undersea tunnel, a phase completed in August 2015, he added.

Arslan said that thanks to intensive work, the $1.25 billion tunnel is opening eight months ahead of schedule, and will shorten a 100-minute cross-strait journey to just 15.

The mega project will connect the city's European and Asian sides with one railway and two ground vehicle routes. It was contracted in 2009 through a joint Turkish-Korean venture later named Eurasian Tunnel Operation Construction and Investment (ATAS).

Designed for light vehicles such as cars and minibuses, vehicles will be able to go through the tunnel in just 15 minutes. Tolls of about $4 for cars and $6 for minibuses will be levied.

The tunnel, linking Kazlicesme on Istanbul's European side and Goztepe in Asia, is expected to reduce traffic congestion in Turkey's most populous city.