Residents Continue to Use This Damaged Bridge as It's Faster Than the Alternative Route

Residents Continue to Use This Damaged Bridge as It's Faster Than the Alternative Route

      LarissaNet via YouTube

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      Sitting in traffic is never enjoyable, yet drivers in central Greece are resorting to drastic actions to shorten their travel times. Residents of Larissa and nearby farming areas are navigating a bridge that collapsed nearly three years ago, as it offers a shorter route than the official detour.

      According to local media outlet LarissaNet (via Carscoops), the situation began with Storm Daniel, which struck Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, and Libya in September 2023, resulting in thousands of casualties and significant destruction of infrastructure. In the Thessaly region—where Larissa serves as the capital—79 bridges were lost, including the Palaeopyrgos Bridge over the Pineios River.

      However, it appears that the damage to the bridge has not deterred impatient motorists. The structure has not fully collapsed; instead, it has sagged considerably, with the center section dipping close to the water, yet it remains intact at both ends. This makes it feasible for vehicles to cross without testing their ability to drive through water.

      That’s precisely what local drivers are doing. Drone footage shared by LarissaNet shows a Ford Ranger navigating the depressed area as if it were on a testing course. The driver seems unconcerned about the precarious nature of the bridge, which has been unsupported for nearly three years and could fall into the river at any moment.

      The incentive to take this risk is high, as local news reports indicate that the only alternative route across the river is a lengthy detour via the National Highway. Farmers are not keen on wasting time or fuel with the safer option, and local authorities have not taken significant measures to discourage this behavior. While traffic is officially prohibited on the collapsed bridge, there are no barriers or police enforcing this ban. Navigation apps are even reported to direct drivers to the bridge.

      Despite the lack of funding for a bridge replacement, one would expect local officials to take more action to prevent motorists from using it as an unauthorized crossing. It is hoped that the footage circulating online will prompt authorities to intervene before a rescue operation becomes necessary.

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Residents Continue to Use This Damaged Bridge as It's Faster Than the Alternative Route Residents Continue to Use This Damaged Bridge as It's Faster Than the Alternative Route

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Residents Continue to Use This Damaged Bridge as It's Faster Than the Alternative Route

The concrete span buckled during a storm in 2023, yet it has remained unrepaired. Nevertheless, that hasn't prevented people from driving over it.