Farmers in Evia are launching a new round of mobilizations with the blockade of the High Bridge in Chalcida starting from 6 PM on Monday, December 22. The farmer blockades are expanding across Central Greece, with dynamic mobilizations and closures of major road arteries in many areas of the country.
Read: Blockade in Achaia: Farmers want to allow only passenger cars through Patras ring road
Farmer blockades: Three-hour traffic disruption at High Bridge
“Today we will close [the High Bridge of Chalcida] from six until nine in the evening. This is the last mobilization we’re doing this week. Because Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday we will give free passage to everyone so they can celebrate the holidays. Yesterday we made another gesture by opening the Afidnes tolls, our blockade in Kirinthos Evia, Istiaia, Thebes, Kastro and Atalanti. This way we show that we want people with us and to show that we are also with the people. Now the mobilizations we’re doing are to harden our stance a bit, so that the government starts taking us seriously, that our problems are long-standing and must be solved,” Vangelis Roubis, president of the Agricultural Association of Triada and member of the Coordinating Committee at the High Bridge of Chalcida blockade, tells Orange Press Agency.
Tempe tunnels open after three-hour blockade
Earlier, farmers closed the Tempe tunnels to trucks for three hours. Police proceeded with traffic diversion for all vehicles from the Old National Road Larissa-Thessaloniki through the Tempe Valley. On Tuesday (23.12), they are expected to arrange tractors at the Nicea junction to facilitate holiday travelers during the festive period.
Farmer blockades: Where problems are occurring
Severe traffic problems are recorded on the Thebes-Livadeia axis. Authorities are diverting traffic from Ritsona. However, congestion prevails on the road, while the situation is worsened by rain. Farmers from Western Thessaly, Karditsa on E65, as well as Trikala at the Longos tolls, also on E65, remain at the blockades. For Tuesday, farmers decided to keep one lane open in each direction. Farmers at Tyria in Ioannina will block the road at the Kalpaki blockade until 10 PM on Monday.
Farmers dump tons of manure outside Western Macedonia regional building
In a symbolic “dirty” move, farmers proceeded Monday afternoon to throw manure at the Western Macedonia Regional building, demanding satisfaction of their demands. As shown in the ThessPost.gr video, they dumped a “truck load” weighing four tons of manure from plant residues and garbage in front of the Regional building as a sign of protest.
Farmers’ next steps
However, although at Tempe, farmers had decided to block two streams in the Tempe tunnels, closing the road to trucks and leaving the other two lanes for other vehicles, police decided for safety reasons to close both streams. Farmers have decided on free passage from blockades on December 23. However, they point out that it is up to the police whether traffic will be allowed and whether vehicle diversion will continue or not.
Greek police: Traffic diversion measures mandatory during farmer mobilizations
Sources from the Hellenic Police state that traffic diversion at farmer blockades is mandatory for safety reasons. Specifically, the sources emphasize: The Hellenic Police, within the framework of its institutional mission to ensure road safety and protect human life, takes necessary measures to regulate and divert traffic in cases of road closures and for as long as emergency obstacles or citizens exist on the roadway.
Particularly during agricultural mobilizations, taking these measures is officially mandated and stems from the current legal framework, as the presence of agricultural tractors, fixed or mobile obstacles and pedestrians on the roadway creates objectively dangerous traffic conditions, regardless of anyone’s intentions or statements. Vehicle passage under these conditions carries increased risk of causing serious traffic accidents and, for this reason, traffic diversion is the only way to prevent risks and not a choice.
It is emphasized that these measures are taken not only for the protection of drivers and passengers, but also for the protection of the protesting farmers themselves, who move on foot on roads intended for fast vehicle traffic and not for people to remain. The Hellenic Police operates and makes relevant decisions based on documented risk assessment and not declarations of good intention. In this context, it acts with the safety of all in mind and cannot allow vehicle traffic at points where human life is endangered. Compliance with traffic regulation measures is a necessary prerequisite for accident prevention and ensuring public safety.
