Highways Directorate gives negative response to IMM after 16 months: 'We will carry out that project'

The IMM Department of Transportation notified the General Directorate of Highways (KGM) of the project details it had prepared on August 31, 2021, to reduce the traffic load in the Mahmutbey tolls area via an official letter.

The KGM, whose opinion was sought for approval, did not respond. The IMM Department of Transportation then sent a follow-up letter. 16 months after the initial application, on January 5, 2023, the General Directorate of Highways responded to the IMM, stating that the project work in the mentioned region would be carried out by the KGM 1st Regional Directorate.

KGM RESPONSE: PROJECT WORK IS BEING CARRIED OUT BY OUR DIRECTORATE

In the letter sent to the IMM by the KGM 1st Regional Directorate and signed by Deputy Regional Director Arif Yıldız, it was stated: “Approval is requested for the TEM Access Road Preliminary Project at the Mahmutbey Tolls Location in the Başakşehir District, which was sent to our regional directorate as a reminder by the IMM. Studies regarding project alternatives are being carried out by our regional directorate in order to resolve problems caused by traffic congestion in the section between the TEM highway Mahmutbey West junction and the Mahmutbey Tolls, which is located on our regional directorate's road network.”

RESPONSE TO THE REMINDER LETTER RECEIVED

The TEM Access Road Project at the Mahmutbey Tolls Location in the Başakşehir district, prepared by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Department of Transportation's Transportation Coordination Directorate, was forwarded to the Highways 1st Regional Directorate with an official letter signed by IMM Head of Transportation Department Utku Cihan on August 31, 2021. No response was received to the preliminary project and protocol submitted for approval. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Department of Transportation sent a reminder letter this time on 11.10.2022.

The letter stated: “The project file and draft protocol have been sent to you with the referenced letter for review and approval, and your administration's institutional opinion and approval are required for the implementation projects to begin on the subject project.”

NEGATIVE RESPONSE AFTER 1.5 YEARS

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure's General Directorate of Highways, which responded to the IMM 16 months after the first application, said, “the project is being carried out by our directorate.”

While no work was carried out in the region by the KGM during the intervening period, IMM Candidate Murat Kurum said that if elected, they would solve the traffic problem in Mahmutbey.

IF IT HAD NOT BEEN BLOCKED, THE IMM PROJECT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED

With the project prepared by the IMM, which would have been implemented today had it been approved, the access distance to the TEM highway would have been extended to prevent traffic congestion occurring at the section between the TEM Highway Mahmutbey West Junction towards the tolls and the TEM İkitelli exit. The access road width would have been increased to 17 meters and the road length to 892.9 meters, and a significant relief would have been provided in the region with the expansion of the retaining wall and underpass.

News Source: 12punto