Taksim to go partially vehicle-free as of November 5

A plan to transform İstanbul's Taksim Square into a vehicle-free zone will be implemented, albeit partially, as of Nov. 5.

As of that date, vehicles will not be allowed to drive along Tarlabaşı Boulevard from the parking lot on Cumhuriyet Street to Divan Hotel, a distance of roughly 400 meters. Vehicles will be directed to other streets and bus stops in the area will be removed.

It is not immediately clear when the square will be completely closed to vehicles. The plan to make Taksim a pedestrian-only zone was made public in February of this year after the Board of Monuments approved the project. The push for the plan came from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2011, and İstanbul Mayor Kadir Topbaş rolled up his sleeves to repurpose the square.

In order to accommodate both pedestrians and the area's heavy traffic, the plan seeks to relocate major traffic routes underground. Vehicular traffic will be moved to underground roads and the number of metro entrances will be increased. Additionally, all of the buildings lining the square will be restored.

Adapted from Worldbulletin