Attiki Odos: Blames Stylianidis for trapping drivers

A new announcement about the chaos that occurred on Attiki Odos with thousands of drivers trapped last Monday, was issued by the company ATTICA ROUTES, in the aftermath of the reactions, but also of the disapproving statements of government officials.

The administration of Attiki Odos claims that it was asking from Christos Stylianidis together with the other concessionaires, the precautionary ban of trucks since last Friday, but also on Sunday, in view of the wave of bad weather Elpis.

“On the above issues and especially with regard to trucks and after interventions of Regional Governors against their precautionary ban, the Minister of Civil Protection clearly stated that the financial-supply chain must be secured “ is noted.

“ATTICA ROUTES SA through its representatives who attended the coordination meetings of 21 and 23 January of the competent bodies under the Minister of Civil Protection, as stated in the minutes, explicitly requested from the beginning a precautionary ban of trucks – heavy vehicles from Sunday night also .

Regarding the traffic ban at 2pm, it is noted that it came too late, with the phenomenon in full swing, and after major traffic issues had already arisen.

“A highway such as Attiki Odos requires timely planning for this and the effort of the representatives of the company to ban the traffic, especially of the heavy vehicles, from the previous day was persistent “, the announcement states.

It is also reported that after the closure of Nea Odos and the National Road on Monday morning, it transferred the entire volume of heavy vehicles to Attiki Odos, resulting in 09.00 am. and with the snowstorm having made its appearance earlier, there was an unprecedented movement of 38,557 vehicles and 3,772 trucks which by 14.00 reached 68,000 vehicles, 5,700 trucks and 35 snowplows among them trying to operate. “And all of the above without any traffic ban or non-traffic recommendation on the streets from the State the day before “.

The company even contrasts the stance of Mr. Chrysochoidis and Hardalia in the wave of bad weather Medea, noting that they had given an order to ban the movement of heavy vehicles from the previous day, responding fully to a corresponding request of Attiki Odos.

The announcement in detail

“ATTICA ROUTES SA to restore the real dimension of the events regarding the issue of the management and the interruption of the traffic of Attiki Odos during the bad weather “ELPIDA”, informs about the following.

First, ATTICA ROUTES SA through its representatives who attended the coordination meetings of 21 and 23 January of the competent bodies under the Minister of Civil Protection, as stated in the minutes, explicitly raised from the beginning a precautionary ban on trucks – heavy vehicles It was pointed out with particular emphasis that despite the readiness of the company with 35 snowplows at 70 km, the increased vehicle traffic combined with the expected extreme weather events, can pose risks to both the safety of drivers and and for the smooth operation of the highway.

Thus:

● At the meeting of January 21, ATTICA ROUTES SA and other Concessionaires requested the ban on the movement of heavy vehicles and the official recommendation by the State for the minimization of movements within the urban fabric as well as the exclusive use of anti-skid chains in transportation. Decisions on measures and traffic bans were referred for the coordination meeting on 23 January.

● In the coordination meeting of January 23, ATTICA ROUTES SA through its representatives reiterated the need to reduce the number of vehicles in circulation from the previous day, as the bad weather was expected, as the competent bodies informed us, for Monday at noon. Specifically, he mentioned the need to close school units, ban trucks from Sunday night – as had been done in bad weather “Medea” (February 13-17, 2021) – and the official communication by the State to minimize travel in Athens, as ATTICA ROUTES SA had already carried out. through its official Twitter page.

It is worth noting that all present concessionaires / highway operators agreed on the proposal for the precautionary and in any case timely banning of trucks as well as the presence of the Police in the Traffic Management Centers and the enhanced presence of Traffic Guards at the entrances and tolls for application of any necessary traffic restrictions.

On the above issues and especially with regard to trucks and after interventions of Regional Governors against their precautionary ban, the Minister of Civil Protection clearly stated that the financial – supply chain must be secured. In particular, he stressed that the State can not close roads precautionarily and suggested that there be close cooperation between the Traffic Police and Concessionaires, recommending that the Traffic Police intervene where necessary either by immobilizing the trucks or channeling them behind salt shakers so that they can move.

The Police also agreed to this proposal, adding that depending on the phenomena, it will proceed with relevant prohibitions where necessary through announcements.
It is emphasized that ATTICA ROUTES SA like any official or concessionaire [δεν νομιμοποιείται] does not have the power, in accordance with applicable law, to decide or order to restrict or prohibit traffic on the operating highway. It has the right to propose or request measures to restrict or prohibit traffic if this is deemed necessary for security reasons, as it did in this case, diligently during both coordination meetings but no authority to voluntarily proceed and impose a restriction or suspension of the traffic without prior relevant decision by the competent Directorate of the Hellenic Police.

In this case, the competent body for the closure of the Attiki Odos highway is the Attica Traffic Directorate, under whose jurisdiction the Attiki Odos Traffic Department falls.

The coordination team of the Attiki Odos Traffic Department has been operating live since the morning hours of Monday, January 24 at the Attiki Odos operations center, having a complete picture of the situation and the problems caused by the instantaneous concentration of heavy vehicles on Attiki Odos.

In this light, the Traffic Police, having already received recommendations from the Ministry of Civil Protection during the coordination meetings for intervention where necessary, confirmed through its representatives that it will intervene with any decision that may be necessary, even stopping traffic and closing roads. full picture of the situation that was evolving from early in the morning, imposed the ban on the traffic of trucks on Attiki Odos with a relevant decision at 14.00 at noon.

The ban came too late, with the phenomenon in full swing, and after major traffic issues had already arisen. Specifically, the closure of Nea Odos and the National Road on Monday morning, passed the entire volume of heavy vehicles on Attiki Odos, resulting in 09.00 am. and with the snowstorm having made its appearance earlier, to have an unprecedented movement of 38,557 vehicles and 3,772 trucks which by 14.00 reached 68,000 vehicles, 5,700 trucks and 35 snowplows among them trying to operate. And all the above without any traffic ban or recommendation of non-traffic on the streets by the State the day before.

It is worth noting that – unlike other highways – Attiki Odos with 50 entrances, requires a timely decision to close, so as to ensure by the Traffic that it will have in time all the necessary forces at each entrance to prevent the arrival of any heavy vehicle. When severe weather conditions are in progress, it is impossible to ban heavy vehicles from entering all the entrances of Attiki Odos at the same time, and this is because it is not practically possible for the Traffic Police to secure and provide the necessary staff to fully and timely implement the ban. .

A highway such as Attiki Odos requires timely planning for this and the company representatives’s persistent effort to ban traffic, especially heavy vehicles, from the previous day.

The traffic ban from the previous day was not only a matter of ensuring the flow of Attiki Odos or any other road, but mainly a matter of protection and safety of highway users. This alone should be the motivation from the beginning for the traffic ban and not whether or not the concessionaires could respond to the management of “ELPIS”.

The press reports in comparisons with the “MEDIA” that are reproduced must be clarified in terms of the following key points.

Κα The bad weather “MEDIA” in February 2021 was dealt with with the same business plan but in the middle of a lockdown and therefore with minimal traffic.
Τότε The then Leadership of the Ministry of Civil Protection, Mr. Michalis Chrysochoidis and Mr. N. Hardalias had themselves given an order to ban the movement of heavy vehicles from the previous day, responding fully to a corresponding request of ATTICA ROAD.

But even in the past, in its more than 20 years of operation, Attiki Odos has never become inaccessible, as in all the respective incidents the Traffic Police took the appropriate measures before the occurrence of extreme weather phenomena.

The management of such situations is a parametric effort and requires a common line based on the common good and convergence of all stakeholders on a key priority, which is none other than the safety of citizens. The company chose to gather all its forces, with the primary concern being the safe completion of the operation to free civilians and vehicles and the return of the road to full operation.
At this point, the company would like to express its warm thanks to the Hellenic Army, the Fire Brigade and the Greek Police for their valuable assistance, in the midst of extreme weather events, in the operation to free citizens and vehicles in recent days. We note that, in parallel with the assistance of the State, the entire potential of Attiki Odos was constantly operating at the point.

Attiki Odos, for more than 20 years, is a model of highway both in terms of infrastructure, as well as in terms of management and operation. In its 20 years of uninterrupted operation, Attiki Odos has managed to change the data of road traffic in our country, raising the bar in the fields of safety and services provided, while it is an integral part of the daily lives of thousands of people.

“Today, we are committed to continuing to operate with the same responsibility for safe routes and quality upgrading of travel for the benefit of all citizens.”

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