Protesting neighborhood residents block international highway to traffic

Road construction work that began in August 2023 on the Osmancık D-100-E80 highway is ongoing. The road construction work is taking place on both sides over a distance of approximately 4 kilometers from the Çorum Junction to the Kamil Junction. As part of the work, the junction and pedestrian crossings connecting Şenyurt Neighborhood to Cumhuriyet Neighborhood on Ömer Derindere Boulevard were removed.

Reacting to the removal of the signalized junction and pedestrian crossings, residents of Şenyurt Neighborhood pointed out that their children, who use the road especially to go to school, do not have safety of life. The neighborhood residents, who held a protest for 1 hour, did not allow vehicles to pass except for ambulances, and long queues of vehicles formed in both directions of the highway.

While police teams took security measures on the road where the protest was held, Çorum Deputy Oğuzhan Kaya connected by phone and spoke with Şenyurt Neighborhood Headman Resul Bahar. Osmancık District Governor Furkan Duman, Police Chief Hasan Hüseyin Gür, and municipal council members also came to the road in question where the protest was held and listened to the demands of the citizens.

"DISTRICT GOVERNOR DUMAN: YOUR MESSAGE HAS BEEN RECEIVED"

Osmancık District Governor Furkan Duman, who came to the area where the protest was held, stated that they had received the message given and said, "You have delivered your message, we understand you. We are of the opinion that what you are saying is correct. Together with our Mayor, we went to the Regional Directorate and said that a crossing project must be carried out. They also declared that they would evaluate this. Our Governor also has knowledge of the situation and sends his greetings; he will look into it. You have delivered your message by using your democratic right. From now on, it is in our hands. We will also hold the necessary meetings to ensure the issue is resolved in the best possible way."

Neighborhood residents participating in the protest expressed their reactions by chanting slogans such as "We want a road, we cannot go to school, the market, or our work; we will take our right to an underpass by force." The protest, which lasted about 1 hour, ended without incident.

News Source: İHA