Kocaeli Mayor Tahir Büyükakın launches $150 M urban renewal and new Gebze traffic junction

Kocaeli Metropolitan Mayor Tahir Büyükakın announced the next phase of the Cedit urban renewal project, a $150 million effort to rebuild 47 blocks and create modern housing for thousands of residents in the former risk‑zone of Cedit Mahallesi. The mayor highlighted the project's progress, the involvement of the Ministry of Environment, City, and Climate Change, and ongoing seismic‑resilience work across the city.

In the same week, Büyükakın inspected the newly completed Eskihisar–Cengiz Topel bridge‑junction in Gebze, a six‑month infrastructure drive aimed at easing traffic congestion. The opening featured a test drive of Turkey’s domestically produced electric car TOGG, underscoring the project's modern design, reinforced foundations, extensive earth‑fill work, and upgraded drainage and lighting systems. Local officials and community leaders attended the ceremony.

Both initiatives reflect Kocaeli’s push for faster, greener urban development and improved transport connectivity.