Turkish president launches new ring roads to link EU free trade zone

By Dilara Hamit

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said the new ring roads in northwestern Kirklareli province will connect the country to EU free trade zone.

Erdogan inaugurated the new ring roads via a video link from Istanbul.

The ring roads in Pinarhisar and Cakilli districts form an important part of the 71-kilometer (44 miles) project that connects Kirklareli to the organized industrial zones and the EU free trade zone.

He pointed out that they have completed a significant part of the roads on this route, which is one of Turkey's leading production and trade centers and also carries the traffic to Bulgaria.

"We have opened the Kırklareli city pass before. Today, together with the 7.5 kilometers (4.3 miles) Pinarhisar and 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) Cakilli ring roads, we have put into service a total of 22 kilometers (13 miles) of the project," Erdogan said.

The president stated that nearly 7,000 vehicles would use the new road daily and that it would decrease the travel time from 78 minutes to 45 minutes.

Erdogan also said that the amount of carbon emissions will also decrease by more than 7,000 tons.