The public holiday that began on the afternoon of the eve of the October 29 Republic Day caused serious congestion in Istanbul's city traffic. According to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality's traffic density map, the density rose to 80 percent across the city, measured at 89 percent on the Anatolian Side and 72 percent on the European Side.
Starting from the afternoon hours, the flow of vehicles slowed down on the main arteries on both the Anatolian and European sides. Drivers struggled to make progress for long periods on the D-100 highway, the TEM Motorway, connecting roads, and bridge crossings.
CONGESTION INCREASED AT BRIDGE CONNECTIONS
Some of the points where traffic was felt most intensely were the connection roads for the 15 July Martyrs Bridge and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. While there was congestion on the main routes around Üsküdar, Ümraniye, and Ataşehir on the Anatolian Side, vehicles also moved slowly on the sections of the D-100 around Kadıköy, Maltepe, and Kartal.
On the European Side, traffic increased significantly on the main arteries around Şişli, Kağıthane, and Beşiktaş. While the two-way flow slowed down around Cevizlibağ, the Haliç Bridge, Okmeydanı, and Mecidiyeköy, congestion was also observed in the Avcılar and Haramidere locations and the Bahçeşehir section of the TEM Motorway.
Traffic jams were also recorded in the Yenibosna and Bahçelievler locations in the direction of Ankara, the Güneşli area of the Basın Ekspres Road, and the Edirne direction of the Mahmutbey Tolls on the TEM Motorway. It was reported that the flow also slowed down in some sections of the TEM around Seyrantepe and Hasdal.
The increase in road traffic was also reflected in public transportation. While crowds formed at stops in various parts of the city, the congestion is expected to continue on the main routes during the evening hours due to the start of the holiday.
News Source: 12punto
