Three years after historic Hurricane Daniel in 2023, the Paleopyrgos bridge in Larissa remains severely damaged. Due to continuous delays in reconstruction, local residents risk their lives daily to cross this bridge.
"What else can we do? Should we take such a long detour? There's no other way; we are playing with death every day," a local resident shared.
The situation becomes more dangerous when the river's water level rises and overflows the bridge. During such times, many people have to leave their vehicles on the bank and walk across the river.
Residents admit they are aware of the lurking dangers, but they have no other choice as the alternative route significantly increases travel time and distance. This compounds difficulties for farmers who must cross here daily to reach their fields.
A government representative stated that the bridge collapse has severed traffic flow between the two sides, forcing drivers to take a detour of about 30 km. Many fully loaded trucks still cross without traffic warning lights.
Beyond daily inconvenience, the partially collapsed bridge severely impacts local tourism. Businesses in the area report significant revenue drops due to isolated traffic.
In winter, the situation worsens as the Pinios river's water level rises, completely submerging the bridge and cutting off all commercial activities in the area.
By My Anh (according to Skai)
