A project to make İstanbul’s Çağlayan Square a traffic-free zone by constructing a tunnel to divert traffic was launched on Monday with a well-attended groundbreaking ceremony.
Transport and Communications Minister Binali Yıldırım, İstanbul Governor Hüseyin Avni Mutlu, İstanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş and İstanbul Chief prosecutor Aykut Cengiz Engin were all present at the groundbreaking ceremony for the project that will turn the square into the largest traffic-free area in the city.
In his speech, the minister addressed the construction company overseeing the project and requested that they do everything the can to finish the project in the next six months, before the construction of the Çağlayan Courthouse, which will be the largest in the world, is completed.
İstanbulites may encounter temporary difficulties, such as traffic congestion, during the construction, but they must be endured for the sake of improving the city, the minister underlined.
Çağlayan Square has already been closed to traffic since Oct. 22 for the project. The square is a central place for rallies and meetings and will cover an area of 22,000 square meters after completion of the project, which will divert traffic through a tunnel. The İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality said the İstanbul Special Provincial Administration and Highways Regional Directorate would be overseeing the project. The planned tunnel will be 700 meters in length.
Leave a Reply