Certain inland approaches feeding into the Alsancak Coastal Road descend at sharper gradients than they appear from the driver’s seat. During late afternoon return, this gradient interacts with urgency.

The exposure forms on approach, not at the junction.

Time pattern: 17:00–19:00 weekdays.

Unlike the late-evening steep connector merge, this pattern occurs earlier, when traffic density is higher and decision pressure increases. Drivers descending toward the coastal axis often carry slightly more speed than intended due to gravity-assisted roll.

The speed does not feel excessive.
It feels efficient.

A typical sequence unfolds:

Vehicle A descends from an elevated residential street toward the coastal junction.
Driver intends to merge into westbound flow.
Approach speed builds subtly during descent.
By the time the junction line is reached, braking demand is higher than anticipated.

Two compression outcomes occur:

Abrupt deceleration at the junction line creates rear exposure from a following downhill vehicle.
Reduced stopping margin leads to a tighter-than-planned merge into active coastal traffic.

The gradient shortens reaction time. What feels like a comfortable glide becomes a compressed decision window within the final 20 meters.

Historically, as hillside development intensified through the 2010s and 2020s, discharge frequency from elevated streets increased. The road geometry did not flatten. Traffic density did.

Late afternoon light compounds the effect. Sun angle from the west reduces contrast depth, especially for descending drivers facing glare across the coastal corridor.

The structural seam forms under four conditions:

Steep but visually moderate gradient
Return-hour traffic density
Subtle gravity acceleration
Compressed braking window

The risk is not reckless descent. It is underestimated arrival speed at the junction threshold.

On the Alsancak Coastal Road after 17:00, the downhill feels controlled.

The merge line arrives sooner than expected.