Traffic controls will be increased to the highest level in Antalya during COP31

Traffic controls will be at a high level in order to ensure safe and rapid transportation of many heads of state and government and high-level guests attending the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will be held in Antalya.

During the summit, the traffic flow in the city will be monitored throughout the day on giant screens in the control center with images taken from helicopters, drones, UAVs and camera systems. The teams on the field will immediately intervene in case of congestion and disruptions that may occur on the routes.

Sedat Akyürek, Deputy Provincial Police Chief in Charge of Traffic, told the AA correspondent that special arrangements have been made on the routes to avoid disruption of the transportation of the heads of state and government and international delegations who will attend the summit, and that approximately 28 thousand personnel will be on the field in cooperation with other institutions.

Stating that transportation to the summit area is provided via the D-400 highway, Akyürek noted that lane arrangements were made to avoid traffic congestion, especially on the Antalya-Alanya route.

Explaining that the right lane from Antalya to Alanya is reserved for the use of citizens, Akyürek stated that the left lane is reserved for the convoys of state officials.

Stating that certain vehicles have been restricted from using the D-400 highway in order to prevent traffic congestion, Akyürek stated that heavy vehicles, intercity buses, pickup trucks over 3,500 kilograms and semi-buses cannot use the route between 06.00 and 22.00.

Akyürek noted that approximately 600 COP31 clad buses will provide free service throughout the province in order to encourage public transportation during the summit, and warned that these vehicles will not use the D-400 highway on 10, 11 and 12 November.

Asking city residents to prefer public transportation, Akyürek suggested that the D-400 highway should not be used unless necessary and that non-urgent work should be postponed if possible.

Reinforcements were sent

Emphasizing that traffic inspections will continue both by air and land throughout the summit, Akyürek stated that reinforcement teams have been assigned to traffic units by the General Directorate of Security Traffic Directorate.

Stating that the traffic will be monitored from the air with helicopters and drones, and from the land with cameras and electronic control systems, Akyürek said that the images obtained from the electronic systems established jointly with the municipality are transferred to the giant screen in the traffic control center.

Expressing that the personnel at the control center monitors the images instantly, Akyürek said, "Sudden traffic congestion and disruptions that may occur will be detected by our teams at the traffic monitoring center and conveyed to our friends in the field. Thus, our teams will try to relieve the traffic flow by quickly intervening against the accumulation and problems that may occur." he said.