Izmir Metropolitan Municipality has opened the Karataş Pedestrian Overpass, which will make pedestrian and vehicle traffic on Mustafa Kemal Coastal Boulevard safer and more comfortable. The overpass, which allows locals, especially students, to directly reach the tram stop and the coastline, has also reduced the waiting time of vehicles on Mustafa Kemal Coastal Boulevard. The 81-meter-long bridge has been appreciated by the people of Izmir with its landscaping and the view of the Gulf from its observation terrace.
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality has put the Karataş Pedestrian Overpass into service, which makes pedestrian traffic in Konak Barbaros Neighborhood and vehicle traffic on Mustafa Kemal Coastal Boulevard safer and more comfortable. With the Karataş Overpass, which will provide safe transportation for students and Karataş residents to the tram stop and coastline in the region where many educational institutions, especially Karataş Anatolian High School, are located, the pedestrian signaling system has been removed and the waiting time of vehicles has been reduced.
An observation terrace was added to the comfortable transportation.
The 81-meter-long, 3,6-meter-wide overpass, built by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Department of Technical Affairs, has 4 escalators and 2 elevators. The overpass, which also adds value to the city with its aesthetic appearance, has also added a viewing terrace to the bridge piers on the sea side. Izmir residents who use the overpass to cross the street take photos while enjoying the Gulf view on the viewing balcony.
Lush landscaping
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Parks and Gardens Department teams carried out landscaping work at the entrance, exit and central reservation where the legs of the Karataş Overpass are located, giving the area a green appearance. Grass laying and planting were completed in a total area of 2 square meters around the overpass. Within the scope of landscaping work, 380 bravo sassafras, 170 miniature sassafras, 400 lavender, 500 oleander, 600 common viburnum, 120 jasmines, 54 broadleaf, 240 tijli laurel trees, 7 olive trees and 4 ornamental oleasters were planted in the area.
“Vehicle traffic has also eased”
Stating that citizens will be able to cross the road without waiting for traffic lights thanks to the Karataş Overpass, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Technical Services Department Road Superstructure Branch Manager Nedim Ersin Külekçi said, “With the pedestrian overpass, the signaling system that was previously for pedestrians will be removed. This will also relieve vehicle traffic on Mustafa Kemal Coastal Boulevard. Our transportation projects throughout İzmir are continuing rapidly. We are taking big steps in line with our İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay’s understanding of making the transportation network safer and faster for both vehicles and pedestrians. We plan to open the Gaziemir Vehicle Overpass in two months. Karşıyaka Our pedestrian overpass works in Yeni Girne are ongoing. Simultaneously, our underpass works that will connect the Food Bazaar to Mürselpaşa Boulevard are also ongoing. We plan to put the highway underpass into service after approximately one year. We will continue our investments to ensure safer vehicle and pedestrian traffic in İzmir,” he said.
“We look at the Gulf and breathe”
Çağdaş Söbeli, who stated that he started using the Karataş Overpass and was very pleased, said, “I have been living in Karataş for 30 years. Since the traffic on the coast was heavy, the waiting time at the traffic lights was long. It made it easier for us on a daily basis. I have been using this place for two days. People look at the Gulf and take a breather, even if it is for five minutes, on the observation terrace here. In that sense, it was a good idea.”
“Transportation has become easier”
Karataş resident Buse Felek, who stated that the overpass provided great convenience for pedestrians, said, “There is a high school behind us. Those children also had a hard time coming and going in the mornings. We, as the locals, are very happy. It has become a beautiful viewing terrace. There was an elevator with a high view in this area and a Göztepe Bridge; we were jealous. We were very happy. It was also very good that an escalator was built.”
“Everyone is very comfortable now.”
İsmet Çağdaş, who was previously the headman of Barbaros Neighborhood, said, “We really wanted an overpass to be built in this area. We conveyed our requests to our municipality. Thank God, it was built and opened. It was difficult for the elderly to cross the street. When the light turned green, the elderly got worried. It is also very beautiful in terms of structure. It has added value to Karataş. There are schools and small children in this area. Now mothers are comfortable, everyone is comfortable.”
