23.05.2026 18:01
With the start of the 9-day Eid al-Adha holiday, tens of thousands of citizens hit the road to head to their hometowns and southern coastlines. Traffic congestion caused by holidaymakers, particularly those departing from Istanbul towards the Aegean region, led to a lockdown at the Bursa North Toll Booths on the Istanbul-Izmir Highway. Vehicle queues stretching for kilometers, captured by drone footage from the air, brought traffic to a standstill. As drivers moved in a stop-and-go manner, police and gendarmerie teams went on alert to clear the traffic.
With the official start of the nine-day Eid al-Adha holiday, tens of thousands of citizens have taken to the roads. The vehicle density caused by drivers wishing to spend the holiday in their hometowns or vacation resorts has brought highways to a standstill, and the endless queues on the roads were captured by drone footage from the air. The first major test for holidaymakers, especially those departing from Istanbul and heading towards the Aegean and southern regions, began in Bursa.
TRAFFIC AT A STANDSTILL AT BURSA NORTH TOLL PLAZAS
Bursa North Toll Plazas, one of the most critical transit points on the Istanbul-Izmir Highway, have literally come to a standstill. Due to vehicle queues stretching for kilometers, traffic has occasionally come to a complete halt. Drivers forced to inch forward in the hot weather have been moving in stop-and-go traffic, undergoing a true test of patience.
TEAMS ON ALERT: INCHING FORWARD
On the highway, both gendarmerie and police traffic teams have taken extensive security measures to alleviate the congestion. Despite the teams' guidance, on the overwhelmed road, some drivers expressed satisfaction with the excitement of the holiday journey, while others stated they were unlucky to spend hours in traffic. Teams continue to warn drivers about excessive speed and following distance.