Over the holiday weekend, traffic congestion was reported in various parts of Istanbul as people visited their loved ones in the city or took advantage of the beautiful weather to go out and about. Heavy traffic was observed on the Anatolian side of the city, particularly at the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, and the Eurasia Tunnel connecting the Anatolian side to the European side. Traffic flow was particularly dense from the tunnel’s exit on the Anatolian side all the way to Kartal.
On the TEM Highway, congestion was reported in both directions between Ataşehir and Sancaktepe, as well as from Sultanbeyli to the 15 July Martyrs Bridge. Similarly, traffic was moving slowly on the Şile Highway from Ataşehir to the 15 July Martyrs Bridge. Drivers traveling on the D-100 Highway between Göztepe and Kartal also faced difficulties in both directions.
In Ümraniye, traffic was noticeable on the TEM connection road from Kayışdağı to the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. Additionally, traffic congestion was reported in Mecidiyeköy, where traffic came to a standstill before the 15 July Martyrs Bridge. On the European side of the city, heavy traffic was observed on the D-100 Highway in Zeytinburnu, Haliç Bridge, and Halıcıoğlu, as well as on the Bayrampaşa O-3 Highway towards Aksaray.
The road connecting Zeytinburnu 10th Year Street to the coast and the coastal road also experienced heavy traffic. As vehicles piled up in Mecidiyeköy, traffic congestion continued all the way to the 15 July Martyrs Bridge. In the direction of Edirne, traffic was smooth, but it slowed down in historical areas like Fatih and Eminönü.
Despite the traffic congestion on the roads, public transportation stations did not experience significant overcrowding. According to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s Mobile Traffic Application, traffic congestion was measured at 63% as of 3:05 pm. The city authorities urged drivers to be patient and follow traffic rules to ensure a smooth flow of traffic during the holiday weekend.
