It was the first bridge to physically link Europe and Asia since the construction of a pontoon bridge by Persian Emperor Darius the Great in 513 BC.
The bridge was officially renamed in 2016 to honor the civilians who resisted the attempted military coup.
It is one of three suspension bridges spanning the Bosphorus Strait within Istanbul city limits.
The structure uses a 'gravity-anchored' system, where the immense tension of the suspension cables is countered by massive concrete blocks embedded in the coastline.
During the Istanbul Marathon, the bridge is closed to motor vehicles, allowing thousands of participants to cross from Asia to Europe on foot.
The bridge is not a double-deck structure; the road deck is a single aerodynamic steel box girder.
The 15 Temmuz Şehitler Köprüsü, formerly known as the Bosphorus Bridge, is the first suspension bridge connecting the European and Asian continents in Istanbul. Completed in 1973, it spans 1,560 meters with a main central span of 1,074 meters. The deck height above the water is 64 meters, allowing for the passage of large international maritime vessels. The bridge is a steel suspension design supported by two main cables anchored at both ends. It operates as a primary motorway for vehicles connecting the O-1 highway between Ortaköy and Beylerbeyi. Pedestrian access to the bridge is strictly prohibited, except during the annual Istanbul Marathon. It serves as a vital artery for the city's transit, handling over 180,000 vehicles daily. The bridge is illuminated with LED lighting systems that change color at night.
From the waterfront promenade of the Beylerbeyi Palace or the public squares in Ortaköy.
View the bridge from the seaside parks in Ortaköy or Beylerbeyi to avoid the high-speed traffic.
Check local event calendars if visiting in autumn, as the bridge periodically closes for the Istanbul Marathon.
Do not attempt to walk onto the bridge deck, as it is restricted exclusively to motor vehicles.
Do not attempt to walk onto the highway, as it is a major high-speed thoroughfare with no pedestrian infrastructure.
Closed to pedestrians year-round, except for the day of the annual Istanbul Marathon.
