ISTANBUL: Turkey opened one of the world’s largest bridges Friday designed to allow traffic to cross the Bosphorus Strait between Europe and Asia and ease congestion in Istanbul. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan oversaw a ceremony inaugurating the $3 billion Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, which is touted by its Turko-Italian developers as the world’s broadest suspension bridge at 58.4 meters wide. The toll bridge, spanning 1,408 meter over the Bosphorus, features 10 lanes, including two rail lines. At 322 meters, officials say the bridge’s 322-meter towers are also the tallest in the world. It becomes Istanbul’s third bridge spanning the strategic strait. “This bridge upon which we look with pride will hopefully be a pioneer for many things. … We will be proud of it, you will see. International movies will be filmed here, you will see,” Erdogan told the audience, among them the king of Bahrain, dignitaries from several other countries and hundreds of citizens. Some vehicles were permitted to cross the bridge for the first time Friday, while the general public can start using it Saturday, Erdogan said.