Istanbul's Taksim area to be closed to car traffic as of Nov 5

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

A large section of Taksim Square stretching from the main Tarlabaşı parking lot to Cumhuriyet Avenue in front of the Divan Hotel will be closed to traffic starting Nov. 5 as part of a controversial move to pedestrianize the square, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has announced.

“The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has started work on the Taksim Square Reorganization Project,” a written statement from the municipality said, adding that electricity and water services would be maintained thanks to advance work to reroute the utilities.

“Within the scope of works that will start at Cumhuriyet Avenue on Nov. 5, 2012, a 400-meter-long area from the parking lot in Tarlabaşı to the front of the Divan Hotel will be closed off to traffic,” the statement read.

Taksim Square’s Gezi Park is also being closed off as part of the controversial Taksim project, which envisages the diversion of the traffic flow on Taksim Square into underground tunnels. The historical Taksim Barracks, which once stood on the site of the park, are set to be rebuilt within the scope of the project.