School orientation week brings Istanbul traffic to a standstill

Istanbul’s morning traffic came close to a standstill as school orientation week began. Serious congestion hit the D-100 highway on the European side, particularly around Avcılar, Küçükçekmece, Bakırköy, Cevizlibağ, the Haliç Bridge, Okmeydanı, Mecidiyeköy and the July 15 Martyrs Bridge.

Traffic also moved slowly on Basın Ekspres Avenue, the TEM motorway connections, the Karaköy-Beşiktaş coastal road and Barbaros Boulevard. On the Asian side, congestion on the D-100 extended from Kartal to the entrance of the Eurasia Tunnel.

Drivers faced difficult conditions on the TEM motorway between Şile Road, Ümraniye Çakmak and the July 15 Martyrs Bridge. Traffic heading toward the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge stretched from Ümraniye to the bridge entrance, while sections of the Şile motorway between Altunizade and Ümraniye also experienced delays.

The morning rush filled public transport as well. Trams, metro trains, buses and metrobuses, along with their stations, were visibly crowded. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s Cep Trafik Map recorded average traffic intensity of 65% across the city and 75% on the Asian side.