Overview 

Türkiye has a well-developed road network, with a total length of over 68,526 kilometers. The network is divided into three main types: motorways, state highways, and provincial roads. Motorways are the highest-capacity roads in Türkiye, with four or more lanes and limited access. State highways are two-lane roads with limited access, and provincial roads are two-lane roads with at-grade intersections. 

Coverage and Capacity 

The road network in Türkiye covers the entire country, with good connectivity between major cities and towns. The capacity of the network is also good, with most roads able to handle the current level of traffic. However, there are some bottlenecks, particularly in urban areas. 

Challenges 

There are a number of challenges facing the Turkish road network, including: 

Congestion: Traffic congestion is a major problem in some urban areas, such as Istanbul and Ankara. 

Mountainous terrain: Türkiye is a mountainous country, and this makes it difficult and expensive to build and maintain roads. 

Development and Investment 

The General Directorate of Highways in Türkiye is responsible for the design and construction of roads. They have a two-fold goal: to create safe, sustainable, and environmentally friendly roads, and to improve the quality of life for society. 

The department undertakes survey and project studies to determine the route of new roads, and to assess the environmental impact of the project. Once the route is determined, they begin construction, which can involve the construction of tunnels, viaducts, and bridges. 

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the construction of divided roads, single roads, tunnels, and bridges/viaducts in Türkiye. This is due to the growing population, technological advancements, and increased vehicle usage. 

The General Directorate of Highways is committed to providing safe, reliable, and efficient roads for the people of Türkiye. They are working to upgrade existing road standards and to construct new roads that meet the needs of a growing country. 

Türkiye has built a large network of highways to connect different regions. The East-West Highway Corridors and North-South Axles are two important networks that facilitate transportation between Europe and Middle East countries. Türkiye is also committed to developing and expanding its motorway network, and has awarded 10 highway projects through the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. The General Directorate of Highways has also implemented a non-stop tolling system on motorways and Bosphorus Bridges, and has made significant advancements in bridge construction. 

In Türkiye, tunnel construction projects are prioritized as part of extensive road development programs. The country focuses on tunnel projects to establish key transit corridors for international transportation networks, to provide access to geographically challenging high mountainous areas (with an average elevation of over 1100 meters), and to enhance traffic safety during harsh winter conditions. 

As of January 1, 2022, there are 349 tunnels with a combined length of 407 km on state and provincial roads in Türkiye. The maintenance, repair, and operation of these tunnels are carried out by 15 Tunnel Maintenance and Operation Chiefdoms, 38 Tunnel Control Centers, and 25 Branch Chiefs. These entities are responsible for ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the tunnels and implementing necessary maintenance and repair activities. 

More information on ongoing project on the following link:   

https://www.kgm.gov.tr/Sayfalar/KGM/SiteEng/Root/Gdh/GdhWorks1.aspx  

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List. 

Distance Matrix 

Road Security 

Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits 

Road Class and Surface Conditions 

Roads in Türkiye run the full gamut from single-lane country roads to modern, divided, trans-European motorways of European standard. Highways in the tourist-frequented western, southwestern, and coastal regions of Türkiye are generally in good condition and are well maintained, while conditions in other areas vary. 

The surface conditions of roads in Turkey vary depending on the road class. Autonomous highways and national highways are generally in good condition and have asphalt or concrete surfaces. Provincial highways, district roads and village roads are often in fair condition and have asphalt or gravel surfaces.  

In road construction, calcareous aggregates are generally used for unbound base courses, surface dressings and asphalt concrete layers. There has been a tendency towards using harder aggregates in wearing courses with the use of basalt or granite, as these have a greater wear life and maintain anti-skid properties over time. In all, the country uses some 100 million tonnes of aggregate for its road construction programme/year. 

Türkiye Road network map on below link: 

https://www.kgm.gov.tr/SiteCollectionImages/KGMimages/Haritalar/turistik.jpg’