Ordu Street, one of the historical and touristic areas of Istanbul, and the surrounding streets will be pedestrianized as of Monday, August 16, 2021.
Zone between 10.00-21.00; It will be closed to traffic except official, logistics and tourist vehicles. The work, which will make pedestrian accessibility and cultural and touristic venues visible, will further develop trade in the region and reduce air and noise pollution in the historical texture.
The Historical Peninsula, which is a very important center of attraction due to its rich historical texture and hosts millions of visitors every day, will breathe with a new pedestrianization project. Laleli region, where Istanbul University and historical mosques and buildings are located, also hosts a dense pedestrian circulation. Due to the development of trade, the area, which is a very lively region, has been experiencing serious traffic congestion for years. Residents of the district and local and foreign tourists who want to visit the historical, cultural and touristic sites in the region lack uninterrupted access due to vehicle traffic.
DISTRICT RESIDENTS AND TRADESMEN WERE INFORMED
Based on these facts, the “Ordu Street and Surroundings Pedestrianization Project”, which was unanimously adopted by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Transportation Coordination Center (UKOME) in November 2020, is being implemented as of Monday, August 16, 2021.
IMM teams held meetings with Fatih Municipality and LASİAD (Laleli Businessmen Association) in recent months, received opinions and gave information about the stages of the project. Afterwards, the region was visited street by street and the opinions of tradesmen and citizens were obtained, information was given about the pedestrianization work and brochures were distributed.
The project aims to increase pedestrian accessibility, contribute to the historical, cultural and touristic texture, regulate vehicle traffic circulation in accordance with the historical texture, reduce air and noise pollution, and further develop the commercial activities of the tradesmen in the region.
IMPORTANT HISTORICAL, CULTURAL AND COMMERCIAL AREAS ARE BECOMING PEDESTRIAN
In line with UKOME decision; In addition to the 59 avenues and streets that have been decided to be pedestrianized in the region, 28 more avenues and streets will be pedestrianized. Controlled traffic circulation will be provided on a total of 16 avenues and avenues, including Ordu Street, where the tram passes.
Pedestrianization project; It covers the entire Kemalpaşa-Mesihpaşa and Mimar Kemalettin neighborhoods in Fatih district. The area within Atatürk Boulevard, Şehzadebaşı – Hayriye Tüccarı – Türkali and Tiyatro streets is being pedestrianized.
Avenues and streets where controlled traffic circulation will be provided; It will be closed to vehicle (motor vehicle) traffic between 10.00-21.00, except for official, touristic and logistics vehicles and commercial taxis. Pedestrianized streets and streets other than streets and streets with controlled traffic circulation; Workplace operators will be able to carry out loading, unloading and other operations only between 21.00 at night and 10.00 in the morning.
In addition to the existing 199 hydraulic barriers at 49 points in the district, 41 new hydraulic barriers were built at 22 points to control traffic flow. Pedestrian and traffic flow in the region will be supervised by the Istanbul Police Department, IMM and Fatih Municipality police.
TRAFFIC FLOW ROUTE HAS BEEN RENEWED
Within the scope of the works, traffic regulation was also renewed. At the intersection of Gençlik Caddesi – Şehzadebaşı Caddesi, a geometric arrangement was made for the right turn at the exit of Gençlik Caddesi. Vezneciler intersection has been made suitable for left turns. Physical and signaling arrangements for vehicle passage were implemented at the intersection of Gençtürk Street and Fethibey Streets with Ordu Street.
IMM, which has also prepared an urban design project for the entire area that will be implemented after pedestrianization, will reorganize Hayriye Tüccarı Street. 3 taxi stands in the area will be moved to their new locations outside the area. İSPARK car parks within the area will be removed. IETT buses will not enter Ordu Street. It will make its flights in the direction of Beyazıt as a ring starting from the Aksaray stop since traffic is closed.
