Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has performed the groundbreaking of the construction of the Canal Istanbul, which will connect the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Erdogan said Canal Istanbul will significantly ease the heavy traffic of the 30-km-long Bosphorus Strait.

The new canal is expected to be completed in six years with a cost of 15 billion US dollars.

It will be around 45 km in length, 275 meters in base width, and 21 meters in-depth.