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A huge new tunnel will connect Europe and Asia - and construction has already started. The Great Istanbul Tunnel is a major project. It will carry around 1.3 million passengers per day.

Turkey is investing billions of pounds in upgrading its transport infrastructure, as it seeks to boost its domestic economy. The transport link will run for 6.5 km (4 miles) under the Bosphorus, connecting the European and Asian parts of Istanbul. The tunnel is expected to cost £2.8 billion and is scheduled to open to the public in 2028.

The Great Istanbul Tunnel project is being excavated using one of the world's largest tunnel machines (TBM), an impressive piece of machinery measuring 83m in length and 20m in width.

This marks the third tunnel crossing the Bosphorus, following the construction of the 3.5km Marmaray Tunnel and the 5.4km Eurasia Tunnel.

Sitting 110 metres below sea level, the tunnel will be 18.8 metres in diameter and able to accommodate both cars and trains.

Divided into three tiers, two will be for cars and one for trains, according to the most recent plans.

The tunnel will connect the highways between Istanbul's three airports: Istanbul Atatürk Airport, Sabiha Gökçen Airport, Istanbul Airport.

The railway section will consist of 13 stations, accommodating 70,000 passengers per hour.

It will also connect with 11 other railways, and allow the Metrobus line, a crucial part of Istanbul's transportation system, to function at optimal capacity.

The tunnel will bring economic and social benefits.

Economically, the tunnel is expected to enhance trade and tourism between Asia and Europe. It will also create new job opportunities and stimulate economic growth in Turkey.

The tunnel will reduce traffic congestion in Istanbul, thereby improving the quality of life for city residents and reducing environmental pollution.