The Antique Canal Project in Turkey's Ephesus, designed to connect the ancient harbor with the sea once again, has received its first round of bids. The project will connect the ancient city of Ephesus, one of the greatest historical sites in the world, to the Aegean Sea again after almost 2,500 years.
It was part of Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım's "35 İzmir Projects" and will be carried out under the supervision of the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSI).
The tender bidding for the first stage of the two-stage Antique Canal Project was recently held at the Second Regional Directorate of State Hydraulic Works.
A total of 53 bids were submitted for the first stage of the project, which covers the construction of a 600-meter-long (1,970-foot-long) and 30-meter-wide inlet channel on the Pamucak coast to provide boat access to the ancient harbor of Ephesus.
The bidders submitted their proposals to the tender commission in closed envelopes. The commission said project will cost an estimated $30.9 million.
After receiving the bids, a limit value calculation will be performed by the commission who will determine the valid bids. The work will be only be awarded after thoroughly examining all 53 bids.
The first stage of the Antique Canal Project is planned to be completed within a year after the commencement of the project.
Ali Fuat Eker, the second district head at the DSI, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that the first and open session of the tender was completed.
Noting that they will review all 53 bids, Eker said the files will be examined and investigations will be conducted if necessary.
"After that, we will see the outcome. It will not be right to comment on the proposed limit value because these are preliminary figures," he said.
"If a bid is invalid, we may encounter a different situation. From now on, the commission will examine the files one by one before deciding on the project."
Once completed, the project will connect the ancient harbor, which has receded 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) inland over the past 2,500 years, to the Aegean Sea through a 6,131-meter canal.