The Uzun Köprü, measuring 1,266 meters in length with 171 arches, is recognized as the world's longest stone bridge. It was included in UNESCO's Tentative Heritage List in 2015. “It is a bridge built during the time of Sultan Murat II for crossing the Ergene River and for our people to travel during floods,” said Turkish Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, according to Anadolu.
Uraloğlu recently visited the historic bridge to examine ongoing restoration works.
“Due to some impossibilities in previous years, a 1.5-meter-high reinforced concrete mixture was loaded onto the bridge. The load on the bridge contributed to its preservation but also caused structural cracks,” Uraloğlu explained.
Recognizing the need for careful restoration, the ministry initiated a meticulous process to remove the concrete without causing further damage. “We have tracked and detected these [cracks]. We have identified alternative transportation routes for Uzunköprü district. In 2021, the bridge's drawings were taken, and the tender for its restoration was made. The 1.5 meters of concrete was removed and taken away without putting any machine on the bridge, using cranes and cutting with machines in a way that would not harm the structure, like digging a well with a needle,” he elaborated.
Uraloğlu highlighted the painstaking efforts involved in the restoration process. “To avoid causing damage, the removal of one concrete block took three years. The old stones were numbered and reused in the restoration. New stones were placed in place of those that were deformed or lost to an unusable extent, with the approval of the museums, and we are carrying out our works,” he said.
“Construction works have started from the bridge's flooring concrete to its walls and cornices. We are striving to permanently protect this work for many more years and to contribute to our culture, history, and tourism,” Uraloğlu added.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.