This bridge could buckle at any moment, but those who continue to drive on it don't seem to care. That's because the detour around it adds nearly 20 miles to their car's odometer and extra time to their commute.
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The Bridge Is Technically Out of Service
In 2023, Storm Daniel was a weak but unstable tropical cyclone that became one of the deadliest in recorded history. In Greece, 17 people died because of the storm.
One of the casualties of that weather event was the Palaiopyrgos Bridge. Located above the Pineios River, it connects the Greek villages of Palaiopyrgos and Alexandrini in Larissa. The concrete span has been buckling for nearly three years.
As reported by the New York Post, the structure has eroded because of floods and has yet to be replaced. Though it is technically out of service, drivers continue to drive across it.
Alternative routes are limited. It is also a vital resource for farmers who need to reach their fields on the other side of the river.
"What should we do? Should we go all the way around?" said one local. "Where should we go? Nothing can be done. We play with death every day."
The Nearest Detour is 19 Miles Away
The president of the Paleopyrgos, Yiannis Beritzas, said drivers must take a 19-mile detour to get around the bridge. Politicians have called upon the government to take action for fear the village could be flooded if it keeps buckling.
"There is a visible risk that in a new Daniel-type storm, where there will be another overflow of the Pinios River, the bridge will act as a dam for the water heading towards the sea, resulting in it overflowing from the riverbeds and flooding the village," said lawmaker Velopoulos Kyriakos in a letter to the Greek infrastructure and transport minister.
Reportedly, plans for an upgraded bridge have been approved. However, construction has not started yet.
Said Thanos Hatzizogidis, the president of the Paleopyrgos Agricultural Cooperative, "All traffic is at risk. Let's not find ourselves running behind the events again."
