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Türkiye will begin construction this year on a new sea-based airport in Trabzon as part of broader transportation investments planned for 2026, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said.
Uraloglu said Trabzon Airport has been added to the investment program and tendered, with groundwork and construction set to begin.
The redesigned airport will include a terminal with a capacity of 10 million passengers and a 3,000-meter runway capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft.
The current airport, which handles more than 3 million passengers annually, lacks space for further expansion due to physical constraints.
Trabzon is among the leading tourist destinations in the Eastern Black Sea region.
Uraloglu said the Istanbul Northern Railway Crossing Project, which will pass over the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, has been completed at the planning stage.
Financing of nearly $6 billion has been secured under the leadership of the World Bank, with participation from other global financial institutions. The tender is planned for the first half of the year.
The 122-kilometer, double-track rail line is expected to eliminate freight capacity constraints between Asia and Europe.
Currently, only four freight trains pass daily through Marmaray. The project is scheduled to be completed within five years once construction begins.
Ongoing highway projects include the Antalya–Alanya Motorway, Ankara–Kirikkale Delice Motorway, Cesmeli–Kizkalesi Motorway and Basaksehir–Nakkas Motorway, the minister said.
Uraloglu said several tunnel and viaduct projects are nearing completion. The Alacabel Tunnel, Dallikavak Tunnel on the Erzurum–Rize route and the Geminbeli Tunnel in Sivas are expected to open this year.
He also highlighted continued investments in road infrastructure, noting that more than 30,000 kilometers of Türkiye’s 68,500-kilometer road network consists of divided highways, carrying the majority of national traffic.
Uraloglu said the Development Road Project has been finalized, connecting Iraq’s Faw Port to Türkiye and onward to Europe via rail and road networks.
Financing for construction on the Iraqi side has been agreed upon by Iraq, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, with work expected to begin after funding is finalized this year.
On cybersecurity, Uraloglu said responsibilities previously held by the National Cyber Incident Response Center under the Information and Communication Technologies Authority have been transferred to the newly established Cybersecurity Presidency, with coordination between institutions continuing.
Uraloglu said Türkiye has increased its number of airports from 26 to 58, ensuring that every neighboring province has access to air transport.
Construction continues on Bayburt-Gumushane and Yozgat airports, which are expected to open in 2026.
He said air passenger numbers reached 247 million in 2025 and are expected to exceed 260 million in 2026.
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