Izmir Metropolitan Municipality has implemented a giant project that will put an end to the traffic woes of Gaziemir district. The Air Education Road Vehicle Overpass, built with an investment of 60 million liras, provided a safe and uninterrupted traffic flow in the Sarnıç region, giving the residents of the region a sigh of relief. Speaking at the opening of the bridge, which was put into service with an enthusiastic ceremony, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay emphasized that they will implement projects that will ease city traffic one by one despite all the obstacles they encounter. Mayor Tugay continued his speech by asking important questions to the government, asking about the fate of vital investments such as the second ring road, metro and urban transformation, and calling for the necessary support to be provided to Izmir.
Gaziemir's Lifeline: Air Training Road Vehicle Overpass Opened
The Air Education Road Vehicle Overpass, which was implemented as a result of the determined efforts of the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, offers a safe and fast connection from Akçay Street to Sarnıç via the İZBAN line. The opening ceremony of the bridge was held with the intense participation of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay, as well as the Republican People's Party (CHP) Izmir Provincial Chairman Şenol Aslanoğlu, Gaziemir Mayor Ünal Işık, Karabağlar Mayor Helil İnay Kınay, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Council CHP Group Deputy Chairman Altan İnanç, municipality bureaucrats, council members, various chamber and civil society organization presidents, mukhtars and many Izmir citizens.
Transportation Move from Chairman Tugay and Criticism of the Government
In his speech at the opening ceremony, Mayor Tugay emphasized that despite all the economic and political difficulties they faced, they focused on using the municipality's limited resources in the most accurate and efficient way to produce solutions to the city's chronic problems. Reminding that infrastructure, traffic and urban transformation are among Izmir's top priorities, Mayor Tugay conveyed that they are working intensively in these areas. Detailing the planned and ongoing projects to solve the city's transportation problem, Mayor Tugay stated that projects such as a pedestrian overpass at ESBAŞ and the Yaşayanlar Intersection on Yeşillik Street are also in the preparation phase. He announced that the Dostluk Boulevard work in Karabağlar is ongoing, that an underpass work has begun to connect Mürselpaşa Boulevard to the Gıda Çarşısı, and that a bridge junction connection will be built behind the port on the Ege Neighborhood side. He also stated that the investment to expand the Zafer Payzın Intersection has been included in the budget and that similar highway projects will be implemented all around Izmir. President Tugay stated that they closely follow transportation problems and develop radical solutions for each of them, and gave the good news that they are taking steps for a comprehensive Transportation Master Plan that will secure transportation for the next 40 years of Izmir.
Alternative Routes to the Airport and Metro Works Accelerate
Underlining that other important projects that will put a dent in Gaziemir traffic are also on the way, President Tugay announced that work is ongoing on alternative routes, especially for the areas with the highest density such as the airport road, Yeşillik Avenue and Akçay Avenue. President Tugay stated that they aim to build at least one, perhaps two alternative roads to the airport during this period, and that he thinks these projects will significantly ease regional traffic. President Tugay stated that they plan to build a connection road from the airport and Buca side behind Fuar İzmir, and added that the Onat Tunnel and Buca Metro works are also continuing rapidly.
“Spend a Lira and Let’s See”: Harsh Criticism of the Government
Addressing the opposition representatives who criticize the services of the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality despite the fact that the investments it deserves have not been made to Izmir, Mayor Tugay said, “We are people who do not like to advertise very much. However, some people who do not contribute a single gram to this city and who work to prevent the works being done say, ‘Izmir Metropolitan Municipality does not hammer even a single nail.’ So, what is this project? They are really talking nonsense. Izmir is not only the third largest city in Türkiye; it is a city that has become the pride of Türkiye despite all these obstacles in its trade, agriculture, economy and industry. There is such a strong Izmir with its experienced people. There is a big and strong Izmir Metropolitan Municipality that forms the foundations of a strong Izmir. How lucky we are that my fellow mayors and I are working together like people from the same family, without any differences between us, and with such complete solidarity in our council. Each of them is a person who deals with the problems of people in a corner of this city every day. We are taking ownership of this city. Those who shamelessly say, 'they didn't even hammer a nail', those who ignore our investments, are not trying to contribute a single gram to this city. There are issues that the government is responsible for regarding the issues they complain about. Like the second ring road or the Halkapınar-Bus Terminal Metro. For the love of your heart, spend a single lira on these and let's see. You have no skill other than blocking our credits. You do nothing other than cutting our money," he said.
“Why Didn’t You Allocate Any Resources to the Second Ring Road This Year?”
Drawing attention to the fact that Izmir is not getting what it pays for its taxes, President Tugay said, “I ask everyone to be sure. These are not a matter of winning an election or coming to power for us. For us, these are struggles over the homeland and nation. Whether we win the election or someone else wins, these are not important. What is important is how much we support our country and our people. In a period when there is such injustice, poverty and lawlessness, we say that we do not find it right for our people to be divided over politics, but everyone needs to know who is really supporting what, who is using the state’s resources according to what. They collect taxes from Izmir, they sell Izmir’s lands, and when you see that only 3,89 percent of the collected taxes are returned to Izmir as investment. 40 percent of them are returned in another city of ours. There is no such injustice. If we are not going to rebel against this, why are we going to rebel? Isn’t there a problem in Izmir? Isn’t there a need for investment in Izmir? Why didn’t you allocate any resources for the second ring road this year?” and continued his criticisms of the government.
Criticism of Insensitivity in Urban Transformation
Following the earthquake in Istanbul, President Tugay drew attention to the urban transformation problem in Izmir and said, “The government declared a 540-hectare area in Karabağlar as an urban transformation area 13 years ago. This is a situation affecting 15 neighborhoods. No nails have been hammered in 13 years. They left the urban transformation area aside and are building mass housing in other places. I do not want to say who they sell the housing they build to or who they let them use. After all, our mukhtars tell us to fix our neighborhood. An urban transformation plan needs to be made, but it is not being made. I said, ‘Let’s all sit together and solve this problem, we are ready to do our part as a constructive solution.’ I said, ‘Let’s end people’s 13-year suffering.’ When the earthquake in Istanbul occurred yesterday, the earthquake issue came to the agenda. We go to bed and wake up day and night with this. We are determined to find radical solutions to this issue, We will do what is necessary. But there should not be such an insensitive government. The resources needed for transformation in Izmir and other cities at risk of earthquakes should be provided. There is no need to allocate resources from the Treasury. The World Bank has allocated a loan for urban transformation. We want to make it available to citizens, but the cold attitude we have seen in the talks on this issue upsets us,” he said.
“We Will Solve All Kinds of Problems in Izmir”
Reiterating his determination to solve all kinds of problems that have been pending in Izmir for many years, President Tugay concluded his speech with the following words: “I have confidence in myself, my colleagues, our mayors, and all our political cadres. I have no doubt that this period will be remembered as a period in which very successful work was done in Izmir; you should have no doubt either. Just as Izmir has become the bright face of this country, the city of beautiful people, and has shown the honor of living in friendship and brotherhood, it is strong enough to cope with any problem that is put before it today. Therefore, it is a great honor for us to serve Izmir. Thank God, He granted us such a thing. We also saw the support of our citizens. From now on, it will be our duty to fight with this honor you have given us and to do whatever needs to be done to the end.”
President Işık: “This Investment is the First Torch of This Promise”
Gaziemir Mayor Ünal Işık also emphasized in his speech at the ceremony that the investments were implemented despite all the difficulties in the country, and said, “Today, we are implementing a very important investment for Gaziemir. A very valuable transportation project. The first of the very important projects that will solve the transportation problem in Gaziemir and İzmir has been implemented. With the new roads, intersections and transportation projects that we will build with our Mayor Cemil Tugay, we will ease the traffic in Gaziemir and İzmir. I would like to say that the steps for cheap and comfortable transportation for our people have been taken with the Gaziemir Metro project that will be put into operation in the future. Our Mayor had a promise to make Gaziemir ‘the shining star of İzmir’. This investment is the first torch of this promise.”
Bridge Opened for Service: Traffic Relief Begins
Following the opening speeches, the Gaziemir Air Training Road Vehicle Overpass was opened. After cutting the ribbon, Mayor Tugay crossed the bridge with the guests. The vehicle bridge, which is an important alternative to the Sarnıç bridge, will greatly relieve Gaziemir traffic on the transportation axis of Adnan Menderes Airport, the Aegean Free Zone and important shopping centers. The 220-meter-long, 10-meter-wide and 6,5-meter-high bridge, which will facilitate transportation from Akçay Street to Sarnıç, will connect Dokuz Eylül Neighborhood and Menderes Neighborhood. In this way, the heavy traffic experienced especially in the morning and evening hours on the Gaziemir axis will be significantly reduced. 20 bored piles of 38 meters in length were used in the construction of the bridge, which was built to be resistant to disasters, and connection roads, pavement arrangements and landscaping works were also completed within the scope of the project. The bridge, which is planned to serve Izmir safely for many years, was offered to the use of the local people with one outbound and one inbound lane.
