Plans for the “Taksim Square Pedestrianization Project,” an initiative for renovating Taksim Square in Istanbul to ease pedestrian access, have been on the books for quite a while, but residents got their first taste of the new changes when construction began. Upsetting shopkeepers and pedestrians alike, the plans are heavily criticized for doing exactly the opposite of their stated purpose.

In a preview of how the square will be isolated from the rest of the city after the renovation is finished, barriers have gone up separating Taksim Square from Cümhürriyet Avenue (at the top right of the photo), one of the Istanbul’s main arteries. Tunnels are being dug in the avenue. Construction started on Nov. 5 with no warning to anyone, leaving shopkeepers furious and traffic congested, according to the Turkish newspaperHurriyet Daily News.

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