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ISTANBUL, TÃœRKÄ°YE - OCTOBER 30: The Bosphorus Bridge, known officially as the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, has been connecting the Asian and European continents for 51 years. The bridge, which opened on October 30, 1973, is used by an average of 190,000 vehicles daily, turning a centuries-old dream into a daily routine. The idea of connecting the two sides of Istanbul, a city that has preserved its historical, political, commercial, and cultural value for centuries, dates back to ancient times. One of the greatest dreams of civilizations ruling in this region was to unite the two continents. Especially after the 16th century, during the Ottoman period, numerous ideas and projects were proposed to connect the two continents, but none were realized until the 15 July Martyrs Bridge. After the second half of the 20th century, Istanbul entered a rapid urbanization process, with the expansion of residential areas, waves of migration, and increasing traffic leading to the first steps being taken towards building bridges over the Bosporus. The construction of the Bosphorus Bridge, undertaken by British and German companies, began in February 1970. The 6-lane bridge, with a total length of 1560 meters and a span of 1074 meters between towers, was completed in approximately 3 years and 8 months. For the construction of the bridge, $23,213,666 was paid at that time. The first bridge connecting the two sides of the megacity was opened a day after the 50th anniversary of the Republic, on October 30, 1973, by the then President Fahri Koruturk. The official name of the Bosphorus Bridge has changed to the "15 July Martyrs Bridge" on July 26, 2016, in memory of those who lost their lives during the treacherous coup attempt on July 15. (Footage by Cemal YurttaÅŸ/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)