Uncertainty prevails in recent hours regarding the unimpeded movement of vehicles on national roads amid farmer blockades, ahead of the Christmas holiday exodus. Farmers declare that from today until Sunday they will free up one traffic lane, or even two if deemed necessary, to allow travelers to move during the holiday period – a solution that was immediately rejected by traffic police officers.
Farmer blockades: “Traffic diversion is imperative,” says Greek police
“Under the current conditions, traffic diversion is imperative. Vehicles will not pass between tractors, makeshift structures, and with pedestrians moving on the national road network. If a driver loses control and crashes into a tractor, there will be no additional traffic lane for ambulances or fire trucks to move, as the consequences could be tragic for the victims,” explained a Greek Police Traffic Directorate official to “Apogeumatini” newspaper. Moreover, weather conditions will not be ideal as meteorologists forecast rain. Therefore, the movement of thousands of vehicles between tractors, makeshift structures, and pedestrian movements from one side of the blockade to the other becomes extremely dangerous.
The farmers, however, pass the buck to traffic police, arguing that while they open the road, traffic police refuse to hand it over to drivers, as happened yesterday at the Tempe tunnels. The farmers arrived at the location shortly before 12:00 noon and proceeded to close the tunnels to trucks, but by police decision, car traffic was also stopped for safety reasons, while the tunnels reopened at 4:00 PM. Those who choose to travel on the national road network should be prepared for hours-long delays regardless of how the dialogue between farmers and police develops. Traffic diversion to bypass roads to avoid blockades along the Athens-Thessaloniki national highway had resulted in journeys from the capital to northern Greece exceeding 8 hours by yesterday evening, according to drivers. The use of the parallel road network requires caution from drivers who choose to travel, as it is not as well-maintained as the national road network.
