The restoration project began after the General Directorate of Highways' Department of Bridges conducted a careful inventory of the bridges of Anatolia, a land that has sheltered many civilizations over the years. Many of the bridges scheduled to be restored by the directorate were once strategic points along historic routes such as the Silk Road. Used heavily by merchants and travelers for over 3,000 years, some of the bridges were at risk of collapse prior to their restoration, despite the strength of the hewn stone from which many of them were constructed. The General Directorate of Highways has announced that by the year 2012, all of Anatolia's historic bridges will be restored.Despite the damage they have incurred over the years, the historic bridges recently restored by the General Directorate of Highways, some of which are now thousands of years old, still stand. This has been attributed to unique qualities in Turkey's geological structure.
The General Directorate of Highways spent TL 4.5 million on restoration efforts in 2008. The most important bridge included in this restoration effort was Uzunköprü (Long Bridge) bridge in Edirne, which at 1,392 meters in length is Turkey's longest stone bridge. Uzunköprü, which has 174 arches, is the only bridge spanning the river Ergene and was constructed during the reign of Sultan Murat II.
One bridge in Turkey is thought to be among the world's oldest. Believed to have been constructed some time around 1300 B.C., the bridge is located near Çorum in what was the capital of the Hittite civilization. This bridge has also been included in the restoration efforts, and work on this important historic site will be coordinated with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Some of the bridges and aqueducts included in the General Directorate of Highways' restoration project are as follows:
Malabadi Bridge: This historic bridge lies over the Batman River in Diyarbakır and is thought to have been built in the year 1147 during the Artuk period upon the orders of Timurtaş bin Ilgazi bin Artuk. The bridge is seven meters wide and 150 meters long.
Bozdoğan Aqueduct (Valens Aqueduct): Restoration is currently under way on an 800-meter segment of this aqueduct, which brought drinking water from Alibeyköy into the city of İstanbul. Construction of the aqueduct began during the Byzantine era under Emperor Constantine the Great and was completed in A.D. 378 by Emperor Valens.
Mağlova Aqueduct: This was built by Mimar Sinan between 1554-1562 to span İstanbul's Alibey River. It is 258 meters in length and 36 meters high.
Misis Bridge: This historic bridge is thought to be the first Roman bridge constructed in Anatolia, and it spans the Ceyhan River. The bridge is named for the legendary city of Misis, which was the site of wars between the Seljuk Turks and the Byzantines and the Crusaders. The bridge was seriously damaged in earthquakes during the Ramazanoğlu Beylik and Ottoman periods, but nonetheless, it remained standing. Restoration on this bridge started in 1998, and it is now fully restored.
Taşköprü (Stone Bridge): This bridge, which is a masterpiece that dates back to the Roman Empire, stands over the Seyhan River in Adana. It has been attributed to a Roman architect named Auxentius, who lived during the fourth century. The bridge originally had 21 rounded arches in it, though seven of these now lie underground.
Cılandıras Bridge: The Cılandıras Bridge is located in Uşak, spanning the Banaz River. It was built by the Lydians and used on the famous Royal Road. The elegant style of this stone bridge, as well as the waterfalls that lie next to it, attract the attention of many visitors.
Zağnos Paşa Bridge: This bridge was built when the Ottomans conquered Trabzon and took the place of a wooden drawbridge that was built under the Trebizond Empire. The Zağnos Bridge, which is believed to have been built in 1467 by Zağnos Paşa, is 50-60 meters in length, 20-25 meters high and has one rounded arch in the middle.
Justinian Bridge: Emperor Justinian is said to have first ordered the construction of this historic bridge spanning the Sakarya River in A.D. 553. It was subsequently destroyed and rebuilt five times, and because of this, it is sometimes referred to as Beşköprü, or Five Bridge. A full 429 meters long, this eight-arched bridge now includes train tracks.
Saray Bridge: This bridge spans the Tunca River in Edirne and is thought to have been built during the reign of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent in 1560 by the famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan. It was constructed from chiseled stone and is 60 meters in length, with four rounded arches.
Fırtına River bridges: General Directorate of Highways has restored the Şenyuva and Köprüköy bridges that span Rize's Fırtına River, which known for its extraordinary natural beauty. A historic 350-year-old arched bridge that runs over the Fırtına River to Artvin's Demirciler and Düzköy villages has also been restored.
Beyazıd Bridge: This Edirne bridge also spans the Tunca River, and it is believed to have been constructed by Ottoman architect Mimar Hayreddin under the rule of Ottoman Sultan Beyazid II in 1488. This historic structure was built from hewn stone, is 78 meters in length.
Uzunköprü (Long Bridge): This bridge was built between the years 1426-1443 by architect Mimar Müslihiddin under the rule of Ottoman Sultan Murat II. Spanning the Ergene River, Uzunköprü is 1,392 meters in length, 6.80-6.90 meters in width and has 174 rounded arches running the length of the bridge.
Belkıs Bridge: This historic bridge, which crosses Antalya's Köprüçay River, sits near two other historic bridges, the Köprüçay Bridge and the Büğrüm Bridge. The bridge was restored in 2007 and is a very popular tourist attraction.
Manastır Bridge (Monastery Bridge): The Manastır Bridge, which is located in the Gulf of Edremit, has been restored, as has the Büyükçekmece Bridge, another Mimar Sinan masterpiece.
Cendere Bridge (Severan Bridge): Following its restoration in 1997, this bridge -- famous for its columns -- became a favorite stopping point for visitors who come see the sun rise and set at Nemrut Mountain. It is located near Adıyaman.
Irgandı Bridge: Over 500 years old, this Bursa bridge was built in 1442 and is unique because it shelters 31 shops, two stables and even a small mosque. Before its restoration, this important historic bridge had been seriously neglected.
Palu Bridge: This was an important point on the Silk Road trade route and was built sometime during the 12th century during the Artuk era. This historic bridge spans Elazığ's Murat River.
Kırkgöz Bridge (The 40-Eyed Bridge): This bridge, which stands in the town of Bolvadin in the province of Afyonkarahisar, was built during the Byzantine era and was later restored by Süleyman the Magnificent during Ottoman rule. The 400-meter-long bridge was used on both the Silk Road and the Royal Road. Much of it was destroyed by the Greeks during the Turkish War of Independence.
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