Çeşmeli-Kızkalesi Highway opens in Mersin to reduce travel times

The 52-kilometer Çeşmeli-Kızkalesi section of the Çeşmeli-Erdemli-Silifke-Taşucu Highway has officially opened to traffic in Mersin, Turkey. The project, which includes 41 kilometers of main roadway and 11 kilometers of connecting roads, aims to significantly reduce travel times between Mersin center and Kızkalesi from several hours to approximately 18 minutes.

Infrastructure features include 10 interchanges, 7 tunnels, 5 viaducts, and 6 toll collection areas. The highway is expected to provide annual savings of 3.02 billion lira—comprising 2.68 billion lira in time savings and 340 million lira in fuel savings—while reducing carbon emissions by 17,000 tons per year. The route is designed to alleviate seasonal traffic congestion in tourism areas and strengthen logistics for the region's agriculture and industry.

While officials highlighted the economic and logistical benefits, the opening has sparked debate regarding toll costs. DEVA Party Mersin Deputy Mehmet Emin Ekmen has submitted a parliamentary inquiry questioning the high pricing, noting that the 220 TL fee for the 41-kilometer stretch significantly exceeds the costs of neighboring routes like the Adana-Mersin highway.