Governor's Office announces: 'May 1' closures for all roads leading to Taksim

In line with the decisions taken, the Istanbul Governor's Office is preparing to effectively place Istanbul under blockade ahead of the May 1 Labor Day. 

The statement from the Governor's Office is as follows: 

"Starting from 20:00 on April 30, 2025, until the measures are lifted;

-The evacuation of the Kadıköy District Pier Square Rıhtım İETT Bus Platforms, ensuring no buses remain in the area, and the removal of the glass bus stops located there until the measures are lifted to prevent any negative incidents as part of security precautions,

Starting from 05:30 on May 1, 2025;

1- The closure of the M2 Yenikapı-Seyrantepe-Hacıosman metro line stations at Vezneciler, Haliç, Taksim Square, Şişhane, Osmanbey, Mecidiyeköy, and Gayrettepe Zincirlikuyu (including all entry and exit points),

2- The suspension of service on the Kabataş-Taksim Square Funicular line,

3- The suspension of service for the Nostalgic Tram on Istiklal Avenue,

4- Suspension of the Funicular line between Tünel Square and Karaköy,

5- Closure of the Taksim, Tarlabaşı, Ömer Hayyam, and Tepebaşı IETT bus stops (in both directions, towards Şişli and Fatih),

6- Closure of the Gayrettepe metro station on the M11 Gayrettepe-İstanbul Airport metro line,

7- Closure of all metro stations (including all entry and exit points) between Kağıthane and Yıldız on the M7 İstoç-Yıldız metro line,

8- Designation of Topkapı station as the final stop for the tram line operating between Bağcılar and Kabataş, with no passenger service between Topkapı and Kabataş,

9- Designation of Cibali station as the final stop for the T5 Eminönü-Alibeyköy Tram Line, with passenger service provided between Cibali and Eminönü,

10- Designation of Yenikapı station as the final stop for the T6 Tram line, with passenger service provided between Yenikapı and Kazlıçeşme,

11- Closure of the Çağlayan, Mecidiyeköy, and Zincirlikuyu Metrobüs stations in both directions (Lines not operated by your institution must be reported to the relevant authority and the Security Directorate must be informed.)

12- Closing Exit No. 4 at the final stop of the Kadıköy-Sabiha Gökçen Airport metro line in Kadıköy District and requiring the use of other exits,

By İDO A.Ş. and the General Directorate of City Lines:

As of 05:30 on May 1, 2025, no passengers or vehicles will be transported from the European side to the Anatolian side, or from the Anatolian side to the European side,

As of 05:30 on May 1, 2025, passengers and vehicles will only be transported from the European side to Üsküdar,

Round-trip services to the Princes' Islands will continue, but services to the Kadıköy Pier will be canceled,

Services to the Eyüp side will continue, but services to the Balat, Beyoğlu, Sütlüce, and Hasköy coastal areas will be canceled,

(İSPARK Tic. A.Ş.); on May 1, 2025;

-Parking lots in the vicinity of Taksim, Şişhane, Kabataş, Mecidiyeköy, Şişli, Saraçhane, Beşiktaş Square, Dolmabahçe, and Kadıköy Pier must be cleared, and no vehicle parking will be permitted,

Furthermore; vehicles parked on all streets and avenues in the districts of Beyoğlu, Beşiktaş, Şişli, Fatih, Kadıköy, and Kartal, as well as on routes leading to Taksim Square and its immediate vicinity, will not be permitted to remain parked starting from the night before.

By the Fire Department; on May 1, 2025,

A specified number of fire trucks and water tankers must be kept ready at designated points along with their crews (to meet the water needs of the Riot Police Branch Directorate's water cannon vehicles and to respond to any potential fire incidents).

To the Road Maintenance Directorate;

-A specified number of construction machinery and trucks must be kept ready at the designated points at the times indicated in the attached table.

Municipal Police Department;

On May 1, 2025, a sufficient number of Municipal Police teams must be assigned to clear street vendors from the districts of Beyoğlu, Şişli, Beşiktaş, Fatih, Kadıköy, and Kartal, and personnel must be informed and remain vigilant.

By the Istanbul Port Authority; starting from 05:30 on May 1, 2025;

Regarding the TURYOL-DENTUR sea transport company:

No passenger transport from the European side to the Anatolian side – or from the Anatolian side to the European side,

Passenger transport from the European side to the Anatolian side is permitted only to Üsküdar,

Round-trip services to the Princes' Islands will continue, but services to the Kadıköy pier are cancelled,

Services to the Eyüp side will continue, but services to the Balat, Beyoğlu, Sütlüce, and Hasköy coastal areas are cancelled,

By the General Directorate of Coastal Safety;

Due to the May 1st Labor and Solidarity Day events, the Istanbul Police Department Sea Port

Branch Directorate shall establish the necessary coordination and carry out the required duty planning,

By the TCDD and DLH Marmaray Regional Directorate;

As of 05:30 on May 1, 2025; the closure of the Marmaray Sirkeci Station to service in both directions,

By the Provincial Health Directorate;

By the Provincial Health Directorate; the assignment of a specified number of ambulances at designated times and locations on May 1, 2025, along with medical personnel (doctors and nurses),

Ensuring that hospitals and emergency services across the province, particularly those in Mecidiyeköy, Şişli, Taksim, Fatih, Kadıköy, Kartal, and their immediate vicinity, are kept ready with sufficient medical staff,

Furthermore, I request that the necessary arrangements be made for the free assignment of sufficient medical teams to serve in the detention centers of the Istanbul Police Department's Vatan and Gayrettepe service buildings, should the need arise.

ROADS TO BE CLOSED AND ALTERNATIVE ROUTES

FATİH DISTRICT ROADS TO BE CLOSED (05:00 - ...)

1. Ragıp Gümüşpala Street and all roads leading to this street

2. Kadir Has Street and all roads leading to this street

3. Abdülezelpaşa Street and all roads leading to this street

4. Reşadiye Street and all roads leading to this street

5. Unkapanı Bridge

6. Galata Bridge

7. Atatürk Boulevard and all roads leading to this boulevard

8. Gazi Mustafa Kemal Street and all roads leading to this street

9. Sahil Kennedy Street (between Sirkeci Square and Çatladıkapı traffic lights) and all roads leading to this street

10. Ankara Street and all roads leading to this street

11. Vezneciler Street and all roads leading to this street

12. Fuat Paşa Street and all roads leading to this street

13. 15 July Martyrs Street and all roads leading to this street

14. Dede Efendi Street and all roads leading to this street

15. Macar Kardeşler Street and all roads leading to this street

16. Fevzipaşa Street (between Kıztaşı traffic lights and the Akdeniz Street intersection) and all roads leading to this street

17. 16 Mart Şehitleri Street and all roads leading to this street

18. Şehzadebaşı Street and all roads leading to this street

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES

1. Coastal Kennedy Street

2. Haliç Bridge

3. D-100

4. Eurasia Tunnel

5. Namık Kemal Street

6. 10th Year Avenue

7. Vatan Avenue

ROADS TO BE CLOSED IN BEYOĞLU DISTRICT (05:00 - ...)

1. Tarlabaşı Boulevard, Refik Saydam Avenue, in the direction of Şişli and Unkapanı Bridge, will be closed to traffic. (Between the Şişhane traffic lights closure point and the Taksim Divan junction closure point)

2. Turabi Baba Avenue and Evliya Çelebi Avenue, in the direction of Tarlabaşı Boulevard, will be closed to traffic. (Between Kasımpaşa Square and Refik Saydam Avenue)

3. Kasımpaşa Bahriye Avenue, in the direction of Piyalepaşa Boulevard, will be closed to traffic. (Between the Turabi Baba Avenue intersection and the İplikçi viaduct)

4. Halıcıoğlu Okmeydanı Avenue will be closed to traffic from the Tokaç Street junction, and no traffic flow will be directed toward Darülaceze Avenue.

5. The intersection of Aslan Gazi Avenue, Alakoç Street, and Aylin Street, in the direction of Darülaceze Avenue, will be closed.

6. Piyalepaşa Boulevard, from Fişekhane Creek to Irmak Street in the Dolapdere direction, will be closed to traffic. (Between the BP gas station on Piyalepaşa Boulevard and the Dolapdere intersection)

7. Ömer Hayyam Street, in the Tarlabaşı Boulevard direction, will be closed to traffic. (Between the Kurtuluş Street intersection and Tarlabaşı Boulevard)

8. Turabi Baba Street and Evliya Çelebi Street, in the Tarlabaşı Boulevard direction, will be closed to traffic. (Between Kasımpaşa Square and Refik Saydam Street)

9. Sazlı Dere and Yedikuyular Street, in the Divan intersection direction, will be closed to traffic. (Between the Dolapdere intersection and the Divan intersection)

10. Mete Street, in the Taksim AKM direction, will be closed to traffic. (Between the Askerocağı Street intersection traffic light closure point and the intersection in front of the AKM)

11. Bedri Karafakihoğlu Street, in the Şehitler Tepesi direction, will be closed to traffic. (Between the Mete intersection closure point and Şehitler Tepesi)

12. İnönü Street, in the Taksim AKM and Dolmabahçe Gazhane Street direction, will be closed to traffic. (Between the intersection in front of the AKM and the Şehitler Tepesi traffic light closure point)

13. Tak-ı Zafer Street will be closed to traffic. (Between the AKM intersection and the Kazancı Yokuşu closure point)

14. Sıraselviler Street will be closed to traffic in the direction of Taksim Square and Cihangir. (Between the Kazancı Slope closure point and the Akarsu Slope head closure point)

15. Istiklal Street and all roads connecting to Istiklal Street will be closed to traffic. (Between Taksim Square and the İlk Belediye Street closure point)

16. Meşrutiyet Street will be closed to traffic in the direction of İlk Belediye Street. (Between the Tepebaşı traffic lights intersection and the Beyoğlu Municipality)

17. İlk Belediye Street will be closed to traffic. (Between the Meşrutiyet Street Beyoğlu Municipality front closure point and the Istiklal Street Tünel Square)

18. Perşembe Pazarı Tersane Street will be closed to traffic in the direction of Karaköy Square and Unkapanı Bridge. (Starting from Karaköy Square)

19. Karaköy Kemeraltı Street will be closed to traffic in the direction of Galata Bridge and Eminönü. (Starting from Karaköy Square)

20. Kemeraltı Street will be closed to traffic in the direction of Dolmabahçe and Karaköy Square. (Between the Karaköy Square closure point and the Boğazkesen Street closure point)

21. Necati Bey Street will be closed to traffic in the direction of Dolmabahçe. (Between Karaköy Square and Tophane traffic lights)

22. Bogazkesen Street, in the direction of Istiklal Street, will be closed to traffic. (Between the Defterdar Yokus Street entrance closure point and the Yeni Çarşı Street entrance closure point)

23. Defterdar Yokus Street, in the direction of Cihangir, will be closed to traffic. (Between the Bogazkesen Street intersection and Siraselviler Street)

24. Meclisi Mebusan Street, in the direction of Dolmabahce and Karakoy, will be closed to traffic. (Between the Kadirgalar Street closure point and the Tophane traffic lights closure point)

25. Mebusan Yokus Street and Akyol Street will be closed to traffic. (Between the Akyol Taxi Stand intersection with Bolahenk Street and Cihangir Street)

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES IN BEYOGLU DISTRICT

1. Donanma Street

2. Fişekhane Deresi Street

3. Dereboyu Street

4. Bülent Demir Street

5. Irmak Street

6. Kurtuluş Deresi Street

7. Piyalepaşa Boulevard

8. Kasımpaşa Zincirlikuyu Street

9. Fatih Sultan Street

10. Fatih Sultan Mimberi Street

11. Alt Baruthane Street

12. Üst Baruthane Street

13. Kulaksiz Street

14. Okmeydani Street

15. Haskoy Street

16. Kumbarhane Street

17. Imrahor Street

18. Asker Ocağı Street

ROADS TO BE CLOSED IN SISLI DISTRICT (05:00 - ...)

1. Cumhuriyet Avenue, in the direction of Şişli and Taksim Square, will be closed to traffic. (Between the intersection in front of the Divan Hotel and the closure point in front of the Harbiye Military Museum)

2. Halaskargazi Avenue, in the direction of Şişli and Taksim Square, will be closed to traffic. (Between the traffic lights in front of the Harbiye Military Museum and the intersection with 19 Mayıs Avenue)

3. Rumeli Avenue, in the direction of Halaskargazi Avenue, will be closed to traffic. (Between the Nişantaşı intersection and the Osman Bey intersection)

4. Abide-i Hürriyet Avenue will be closed to traffic starting from the Çağlayan underpass and the traffic lights in front of the Çağlayan Courthouse.

5. Büyükdere Avenue, in the direction of Taksim Square and Şişli, will be closed to traffic. (Between the intersection with 19 Mayıs Avenue and Mecidiyeköy Square)

6. Büyükdere Avenue, between the Esentepe underpass and Mecidiyeköy, will be closed to vehicle traffic.

7. Merkez Avenue and Geçit Street, in the direction of Abide-i Hürriyet Avenue, will be closed to traffic. (Between the Kuştepe underpass and Abide-i Hürriyet Avenue) 8. Darülaceze Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic.

9. Abide-i Hürriyet Avenue, in the direction of Feriköy, will be closed to traffic. (Between the Hürriyet Tepe traffic lights and Ergenekon Avenue)

10. Izzetpasa Street, Halaskargazi Street direction will be closed to traffic. (Between the Abide-İ Hürriyet Street intersection and Halaskargazi Street)

11. Ergenekon Street, Pangalti direction will be closed to traffic. (Between the Kurtulus Street intersection and Halaskargazi Street)

12. Dolapdere Street, Pangalti Underpass direction will be closed to traffic. (Between the Poyraz Street intersection and Ergenekon Street)

13. Mahmut Ağa Slope, Kurtulus direction will be closed to traffic. (Between the Piyalepasa Boulevard intersection and Yay Meydanı Street)

14. Siracevizler Street, Dolmabahce Tunnel direction will be closed to traffic. (Starting from the Variant Underpass Kagithane Tunnel turn)

15. Akar Street, Dolmabahce Tunnel direction will be closed to traffic. (Starting from the Variant Underpass Dolmabahçe Taksim turn)

16. Darulaceze Road Street, Ferikoy direction will be closed to traffic. (Starting from the Akar Street intersection)

17. İncirli Dede Street, Ferikoy direction will be closed to traffic. (Starting from the Akar Street intersection)

18. The Dolmabahçe Tunnel will be closed to traffic in the direction of Dolmabahçe Square. (Starting from the Akar Street tunnel entrance)

19. Duçi Street and Huzur Street will be closed to traffic in the direction of Sıracevizler Street. (Starting from the Bomonti junction entrances)

20. Esen Street and Hasat Street will be closed to traffic in the direction of Şişli Mosque. (Starting from the Çiftecevizler Street entrances)

21. Darülaceze Street will be closed to traffic in the direction of Abide-i Hürriyet Street. (Starting from the junction in front of the Şişli Municipality)

22. Piyalepaşa Boulevard will be closed to traffic in the direction of Çağlayan, towards Uzay Automotive. (Starting from the Odese Boulevard junction behind the Tunnel Operations Directorate)

23. Odese Boulevard will be closed to traffic in the direction of Piyalepaşa, towards Uzay Automotive. (Starting from in front of the Muradiye Mosque on Fevzi Çakmak Street)

24. İmrahor Street will be closed to traffic in the direction of the Kağıthane Tunnel towards Bomonti. (Starting from the İmrahor, Kağıthane, and Sütlüce entrances)

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES IN ŞİŞLİ DISTRICT

1. Büyükdere Avenue between Mecidiyeköy Square and Zincirlikuyu

2. Mecidiyeköy Road Avenue

3. Ortaklar Avenue

4. Bahçeler Street

5. Bülent Tarcan Avenue

6. Hakkı Yeten Avenue

7. Vali Konağı Avenue

8. Aytekin Kotil Avenue

9. 19 Mayıs Street

10. Kadırgalar Street, between Bayıldım Street and Adil Baba Junction

11. Maçka Street

12. Teşvikiye Street

13. Abdi İpekçi Street

14. Mim Kemal Öke Street

15. Taşkışla Street

16. Kurtuluş Street

17. Bozkurt Avenue

18. Silahşör Avenue

19. Avukat Avenue

20. Çiftecevizler Avenue

21. Darülaceze Avenue

ROADS TO BE CLOSED IN BEŞİKTAŞ DISTRICT (05:00 - ...)

1. Barbaros Boulevard towards Beşiktaş Square will be closed to traffic. (Between Balmumcu Junction and Zincirlikuyu Balmum Underpass Entrance and the Central Command traffic lights)

2. Barbaros Boulevard towards Beşiktaş Square will be closed to traffic. (Between the Central Command traffic lights and Beşiktaş Square)

3. The Sait Çiftçi Yıldız Junction Barbaros Boulevard entrance will be closed to traffic. (Starting from the D-100 South Barbaros Boulevard entrance)

4. Barbaros Boulevard, Saray Street, Yıldız Street, and the Old Yıldız Street Beşiktaş Square turn will be closed to traffic. (Starting from the Yıldız, Serencebey, and Old Ortaköy turn traffic lights)

5. Çiğdem Street and Barbaros Hayrettin Pier Street will be closed to traffic. (Starting from the Çırağan Street intersection)

6. The Beşiktaş Street Dolmabahçe direction will be closed to traffic. (Between Beşiktaş Square and the traffic lights at the beginning of Süleyman Seba Street)

7. The Dolmabahçe Street Karaköy direction will be closed to traffic. (Between the beginning of Süleyman Seba Street and the Kadırgalar lower traffic lights)

8. Vişneli Tekke Street in the Dolmabahçe direction will be closed to traffic. (Starting from the Prof. Alaeddin Yavaşça Street intersection)

9. The Dolmabahçe Gazhane Street Karaköy direction will be closed to traffic. (Asker Ocağı Street

intersection, between the Süzer Plaza front closure point and Dolmabahçe Square)

BEŞİKTAŞ DISTRICT ALTERNATIVE ROUTES

1. Barbaros Boulevard Outbound Direction

2. Çırağan Street

3. Ortabahçe Street

4. Süleyman Seba Street

5. Kadırgalar Street between Dolmabahçe Lights and Bayıldım Street

6. Bayıldım Street

7. Şair Nedim Street

8. Nüshetiye Street

9. Ihlamur Yıldız Street

10. Emirhan Street

11. Ayazma Dere Street

12. Yıldız Street

13. Palangalar Street

14. Balmumcu Şakir Kesebir Street

15. Büyükdere Street, Sarıyer direction

D-100 ROADS TO BE CLOSED (From 05:00)

1. D-100 North Mecidiyeköy Junction

2. D-100 North Kasımpaşa Taksim Junctions

3. D-100 North Okmeydanı Side Road Kasımpaşa Taksim Junctions

4. D-100 North Beşiktaş Junctions

5. Hasdal Okmeydanı Connection Road Okmeydanı Underpass

6. D-100 South Okmeydanı Piyalepaşa Junction

7. D-100 South Çağlayan Side Road Mecidiyeköy Junction

8. D-100 South Beşiktaş Balmumcu Junction

9. D-100 South Çağlayan Side Road Çağlayan Junctions

D-100 ALTERNATIVE ROUTES

1. Traffic coming from the D-100 North towards Mecidiyeköy will be closed and diverted towards the Haliç North direction.

2. Traffic coming from the North Çağlayan Side Road towards Kasımpaşa-Taksim will be closed and diverted towards the Haliç direction.

3. Traffic coming from the North Okmeydanı Side Road towards Taksim will be closed and diverted towards the Haliç direction.

4. Traffic coming from the TEM direction towards Piyalepaşa will be completely closed and diverted towards the Haliç direction.

5. Traffic coming from the South Haliç direction towards Piyalepaşa will be completely closed and diverted towards the D-100 South direction.

6. Traffic flowing from the South Caglayan frontage road toward Mecidiyekoy will be diverted to the D-100 South direction.

7. Traffic flowing from the D-100 South direction toward Beşiktaş Balmumcu will be diverted to the Levent-Sariyer direction.

ROADS TO BE CLOSED IN KADIKOY DISTRICT (From 05:00 AM onwards)

1. Tibbiye Street between the Kavak İskele Street-Tibbiye Street intersection and the Rıhtım Street-Tibbiye Street intersection, and all roads leading to this street.

2. Rıhtım Street between the Tibbiye Street-Rıhtım Street intersection and the Rıhtım Street-Rıhtım Street intersection, and all roads leading to this street.

3. Albay Faik Sözdener Street between the Rıhtım Street-Albay Faik Sözdener Street intersection and the Sogutlucesme Street-Albay Faik Sözdener Street intersection, and all roads leading to this street.

4. Kurbagalidere Street between the Fahrettin Kerim Gökay Street-Kurbagalidere Street intersection and the Sogutlucesme Street-Kurbagalidere Street intersection, and all roads leading to this street.

5. Sogutlucesme Street - Kurbagalidere Street intersection and Rıhtım Street - Sogutlucesme

Söğütlüçeşme Street, located between the intersection of the street, and all roads leading to this street

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES

1. Fahrettin Kerim Gökay Street (Minibus Road)

2. Kurbağalıdere Street (Hasanpaşa Direction)

3. Dr. Esat Işık Street

4. Acıbadem Street

5. Recep Peker Street

6. Bağdat Street

7. D-100 Highway

8. Taşköprü Street

9. Dr. Eyüp Aksoy Street

ROADS TO BE CLOSED IN KARTAL DISTRICT (From 05:00)

1. Turgut Özal Boulevard and Yunus Street intersection

2. Both directions between Turgut Özal Boulevard, Çanakkale Street, and Pendik District Ankara Street (Erol Kaya Street) will be closed to traffic

3. Between the Sanayi Street and Ulunay Street intersection and the Turgut Özal Boulevard junction

4. İhlas Street and Turgut Özal Boulevard intersection

5. Intersection of Sehzade Street and Turgut Özal Boulevard

6. Egemenlik Boulevard Kartal Baba Underpass

7. The entirety of Savarona Street

8. Neyzen Tevfik Street, between the Şehit Tamer Kılıç Street intersection and Savarona Street

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES

1. Traffic from Turgut Özal Boulevard South Road will be diverted toward Canakkale Street

2. Traffic from Turgut Özal Boulevard North Road will be diverted toward Ankara Street and Erol Kaya Street.

3. Ankara Street, Uskudar Street, and Erol Kaya Street will be used

4. Traffic will be diverted from Sanayi Street towards Ulunay Street and Namık Kemal Street.

5. D-100 North and South Roads