Esentepe Coastal Road | Post-Summer Transition | Early Autumn Evenings

After long dry summers, fine dust, tire residue, and airborne salt accumulate invisibly across the Esentepe coastal road surface. The asphalt appears clean. It is not.

The exposure begins with the first meaningful rainfall of the season.

When early autumn rain arrives after months of dryness, water lifts accumulated residue into a thin surface film. For the first 20 to 40 minutes of rainfall, friction drops noticeably. The surface becomes temporarily slick, especially on gentle curves where vehicles maintain steady speed.

Timing matters. This pattern often appears in September and October, particularly during evening showers when the road is still warm from daytime heat.

A repeated local scenario occurs along the east-west stretch approaching the beach access turnoff. Drivers maintain familiar summer speeds. Light rain begins. There is no visible pooling, no dramatic water flow. Yet braking distance extends slightly beyond expectation.

The geometry of the curve does not change.
The grip does.

In Esentepe, the first rain is not the heaviest risk.
It is the most deceptive one.