Turkey opens Bosphorus bridges, key highways to 30-year private operation
Turkey will privatise Bosphorus bridges and major highways under 30-year operating contracts, with the process to be completed by 2031.
Turkey has announced a major privatisation initiative covering its state-run bridges and highways, offering them to private operators under 30-year contracts. The decision, published in the country's official gazette on Saturday, opens the door for a multi-billion-dollar programme that could reshape how key transport infrastructure is managed.
The portfolio includes the two Bosphorus Strait bridges in Istanbul, which are critical arteries for the city's traffic. These bridges operated at full capacity in 2024, with around 430,000 vehicles crossing them daily. The programme also covers the Nigde-Pozanti highway, the Gaziantep ring road, and the Bursa ring road.
Under the plan, assets may be privatised either as a single package or in separate groups. The government has outlined several methods for the transfer, including the sale of operating rights, leasing arrangements, and revenue-sharing agreements. The entire process is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2031.
In April, a government delegation travelled to Portugal to meet with potential investors for the programme, according to sources familiar with the matter. The move signals Ankara's intent to attract international interest in its infrastructure assets as part of a broader push to raise revenue and improve operational efficiency.