Within the scope of Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge and Nothern Marmara Motorway, İçtaş-Astaldi consortium ICA carries out the most extensive afforestation project ever implemented by the private sector in the history of Republic. ICA started afforestation under the viaducts with a ceremony attended by students.  When the afforestation project is completed, ICA would have planted 5 million 100 thousand trees and plants in Istanbul in the course of 3 years. 

Having built and operating Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge and Nothern Marmara Motorway, ICA carries out the most extensive afforestation project ever implemented by the private sector in the history of Republic.   In the last 3 years, ICA planted 3 million 100 thousand trees and plants and aims to increase this number to 5 million 100 thousand. 
In parallel with this goal, a ceremony was held on Tuesday 15 November with the participation of Head Official of Sarıyer Gürsoy Osman Bilgin, İstanbul Forestry Regional Director Zekeriya Mere, Director of Sarıyer District National Education İbrahim Tahmaz, ICA executives and students from Sarıyer Anafartalar Middle School. With this ceremony, afforestation under the viaducts along the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge and Northern Ring Motorway was launched. 

Speaking at the event, ICA 3rd Bosphorus Bridge and Northern Ring Motorway Investment and Enterprise Inc. Co General Manager Atilla Gökçe said: “Within the scope of the protocol signed with the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs and the Ministry of Transport, Maritime and Communications; we continue afforestation works including different species in and around Istanbul along the Northern Ring Motorway. Since 2013, ICA planted 3 million 100 thousand of trees and plants.  Today, with the aim of afforestation under the viaduct, we launched the project with our guest students here.  We wanted them to be part of this awareness. With the support from our shareholders and the strength from our students, we will continue until we reach 5 million 100 thousand trees and plants. 

Turkey’s first ecological bridge is on this route
Stating that Turkey’s first ecological bridge is on the route of Northern Ring Motorway, Gökçe continued: “The ecological bridge is of critical importance in our motorway project and preserving the wildlife. The bridge is located around Fenertepe wild life preservation area which is in section E-2 on the European side and it is becoming part of the natural life.“
For the last 3 years, in and around Istanbul, afforestation will be carried out along the course of Northern Ring Motorway, break spots and toll sections, in a total area of 6.500 ha.