Accident in İzmir Bayraklı Büyük Tünel: Traffic flowing from middle lane, 2 kilometers congestion

A traffic accident closely concerning drivers passing through İzmir occurred in Bayraklı Büyük Tünel, one of the city's important transit points. According to the official announcement by İzmir Emniyet Müdürlüğü Trafik Birimleri, both lanes of the road were closed to traffic due to the accident in the direction of Karşıyaka inside the tunnel. While the intervention and investigation of security forces at the scene continue, traffic flow has begun to be provided in a controlled manner only from the middle lane within the scope of the precautions taken in the region.

In addition to the physical obstacles caused by the accident, it was determined that a significant vehicle queue formed backwards starting from the entrance of the tunnel due to drivers looking at the accident and slowing down. Authorities reported that the density caused by the accident extended backwards along a line of approximately 2 kilometers from the mouth of the tunnel, significantly extending driving times. This situation negatively affected thousands of vehicles heading towards Karşıyaka, especially at the beginning and end of working hours, causing disruptions in transportation.

Traffic teams took extensive security precautions at the tunnel entrances and surrounding roads to restore flow in the area to normal and to prevent a possible second accident. Drivers are forced to slow down and proceed in long queues due to traffic being reduced to a single lane. Since the location of the accident is inside the tunnel, it is considered that determining the damage of the vehicles and towing operations take more time and are more difficult than standard road accidents, which causes traffic to be managed from a single lane for a long time.

In the official statement regarding the issue, it was emphasized once again that the left and right lanes were completely closed to traffic on the highway section where the incident occurred, and information was shared that flow was given from the middle lane. For citizens wishing to evaluate alternative routes in terms of transportation, it is recommended to use connection roads such as Çiğli and Mustafa Kemal Paşa (MKP) boulevards, which are close to this region. It is found useful for those who want to change their route to avoid being affected by traffic density to check other roads going in the direction of Karşıyaka.

Authorities warned all drivers who have to use this route and will join traffic to be extremely careful, reduce their speed, and maintain following distance in order not to hit the vehicles involved in the accident, duty personnel, and the safety lane. In this period when the lighting arrangement inside the tunnel and the narrowing road structure make driving conditions difficult, it is stated that it is of great importance to act calmly and patiently in dense traffic. It was stated that works are continuing for the traffic density to decrease and the roads to open completely, and drivers need to follow announcements and warnings.