The North Marmara Motorway and Its Effect on Sevindikli

The North Marmara Motorway changed the access story of the Sevindikli corridor. The short answer is this: the motorway's Sevindikli-İlimtepe toll booths went into service in 2019 and connected the area directly to the main transport corridor between İstanbul and Kocaeli. This access gain is one of the most concrete factors that brought the inland corridor in the north of Körfez onto investors' agendas.

What is the North Marmara Motorway?

The North Marmara Motorway is a large-scale motorway project that passes through the north of İstanbul and connects the main routes in the Marmara region to one another. Different sections of the motorway were opened to service in stages. Such large transport projects increase the accessibility, and therefore the visibility, of the areas they pass through.

The section that concerns us is the motorway's Kurtköy-Akyazı segment; this segment covers the corridor that Sevindikli is also part of. In other words, Sevindikli is located on this large corridor, at a directly affected point. There is a big difference, in terms of access, between an area being on the edge of such a corridor and being directly on it; Sevindikli is on the favorable side of this difference.

When did the Sevindikli-İlimtepe toll booths open?

The Sevindikli-İlimtepe toll booths on the motorway's Kurtköy-Akyazı segment went into service in 2019. The importance of these booths lies in their location: they are at the center of the area. In other words, an investor in Sevindikli and its surroundings joins directly from within the corridor, rather than traveling to a distant connection point on the motorway.

Having a motorway toll booth right at the center of an area is not an ordinary detail. This means a time and distance advantage for everyone who wants to reach the area. The easier the access, the more accessible the area becomes for a wider audience. This access, which has effectively existed since 2019, is a realized gain rather than an expectation; this makes it solid ground in an investment assessment.

Opening a motorway toll booth in an area turns that point into a stop on the map. When the access distance shortens, the area becomes a place that a wider audience can reach.

Why does the booth being at the center of the area matter?

For most areas, getting onto the motorway requires reaching a connection point a few kilometers away. In Sevindikli the situation is different. Because the Sevindikli-İlimtepe toll booths are at the center of the area, the distance to the exit is minimized. This is a practical advantage felt in daily use.

A booth located at the center saves time both for those who want to come to the area and for those who want to leave the area and head toward İstanbul or Kocaeli. This ease of access is one of the leading factors that make the area a visible point on the map. In the long term, ease of transport affects an area's livability and investment profile together. Surrounding corridors such as İlimtepe, Tütünçiftlik and Yarımca are also part of this access network; the centrally located booth connects this entire surroundings to one another and to the main corridor.

What did Sevindikli gain in transport?

With the opening of the booths, the area's accessibility increased markedly. We can list the practical gains as follows:

• Proximity to İstanbul. The roughly 15-minute access to the İstanbul (Tuzla) provincial border brings the area closer to İstanbul's expanding sphere of influence.
• Connection to the Kocaeli center. The distance of about 35 km to the center of Kocaeli (İzmit) becomes more practical with motorway access.
• Relationship with the district center. The corridor of about 20 km to the Körfez district center keeps the area connected to district services.

In daily transport, the KM35 bus line of the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality also provides access to the area; so a connection is possible both by private vehicle and by public transport. This two-way access makes the area accessible not only for vehicle owners but also for a wider audience. Because the presence of public transport strengthens an area's connection to daily life, it is a meaningful gain not only for investment but also for livability.

How does transport affect land value?

In real estate, location and accessibility are at the top of the headings that determine value. When an area becomes easier to reach, interest in that area widens. The widening of interest is a factor that supports demand in the medium-to-long term. Demand, in turn, when combined with limited supply, sustains value in the right location.

One must speak with measure here: a transport gain is not on its own a definite promise of return. Motorway access gains meaning when combined with zoning status and title deed clarity. In other words, proximity to a booth is not sufficient on its own when it is not combined with the right plot. A plot with no frontage, with problematic access or with an unclear zoning status may not carry the expected value even if it is close to the motorway. Our article on the current investment analysis of the Körfez district, where we assess the area as a whole, addresses this balance in a broader frame.

What does this mean for the investor?

Motorway access turned Sevindikli into a corridor from which one can commute to İstanbul daily. This made the area visible not only locally but also for investors who want to move away from the density on the İstanbul side. In a period when prices in İstanbul are hard to reach, accessible neighboring corridors naturally attract interest.

From the investor's perspective, what matters is matching the access advantage with the right plot. Access is a starting point; the decision, however, is shaped by the plot's title deed, zoning and frontage status. Our comprehensive investment guide prepared for Sevindikli, where we gather the whole of the area, the distances and the points to watch out for, helps you connect the motorway gain to plot selection. To follow the official announcements about the motorway and the area, you can watch the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality page.

Is motorway access sufficient on its own?

No. Motorway access is a strong advantage, but it does not on its own make an investment right. The value of two plots near the same booth can be very different due to the title deed type, zoning status, share structure and road frontage.

That is why a transport gain must always be considered together with the examination of the plot. We can briefly summarize the headings to watch out for as follows:

• Title deed clarity. The type, owner and annotation status should be checked.
• Zoning status. The plot's zoning conditions and its relationship with the area's agenda.
• Frontage and access. As much as proximity to the motorway, the plot's actual road situation matters.
• Long term. Land investment is a matter of patience; value usually forms over time.

The common mistakes made on a plot near the motorway also arise from neglecting these headings: relying on as-the-crow-flies proximity without checking actual road access, substituting proximity to a booth for zoning clarity, or ignoring the uncertainty in a shared title deed. In other words, the motorway prepares the ground that makes the area attractive; the right plot, on this ground, is what makes your investment meaningful. Assessing the two together is the essence of a measured and solid investment approach. Our guide on title deed examination before purchase, which examines the title deed side in detail, is with you while you make this match.

Frequently asked questions

When did the Sevindikli-İlimtepe toll booths open?

The Sevindikli-İlimtepe toll booths on the Kurtköy-Akyazı segment of the North Marmara Motorway went into service in 2019. Because these booths are at the center of the area, Sevindikli and its surroundings join directly from within the corridor, without traveling to a distant connection point on the motorway. This access, which has effectively existed since 2019, is a realized gain rather than an expectation.

How much closer did the motorway bring Sevindikli to İstanbul?

With motorway access, a distance of about 15 minutes to the İstanbul (Tuzla) provincial border was created; this turned Sevindikli into a corridor from which one can commute to İstanbul daily. The same access also makes the connection of about 35 km to the center of Kocaeli (İzmit) and about 20 km to the Körfez district center more practical. So the area stays connected both to İstanbul and to district services.

Why does the booth being at the center of the area matter?

In most areas, getting onto the motorway requires going to a connection point a few kilometers away. The Sevindikli-İlimtepe toll booths, however, are at the center of the area, so the distance to the exit is minimized. This is a practical advantage felt in daily use, saving time both for those coming to the area and for those heading toward İstanbul or Kocaeli.

Can Sevindikli be reached by public transport?

Yes. Alongside motorway access by private vehicle, in daily transport the KM35 bus line of the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality also provides access to the area. This two-way access makes the area accessible not only for vehicle owners but also for a wider audience, and strengthens the area's connection to daily life.

Is proximity to the motorway sufficient for land?

No, it is not sufficient on its own. Motorway access prepares a strong advantage and an attractive ground; however, even the value of two plots near the same booth can be very different due to the title deed type, zoning status, share structure and road frontage. The access gain must always be assessed together with the examination of the title deed, zoning and frontage.

Have a place of your own. If you would like to get information and make an appointment about the opportunities on the North Marmara Motorway Sevindikli corridor, reach us on our line at +90 532 295 17 61.