The “Malakasi A” tunnel of Egnatia Road in the direction of Igoumenitsa is closed, in order to carry out the necessary checks, after the inspection they carried out yesterday afternoon, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transportin charge of Infrastructure, Nikos Tachiaos and a group of executives from the company “Egnatia Odos S.A., accompanied by the regional governor of Epirus, Alexandros Kahrimanis who in the previous days referred to security problems in Egnatia.

The closure of the “Malakasi A” tunnel was announced by the Deputy Minister Nikos Tahiaos in a written statement. During the time that the tunnel will remain closed, as mentioned in the relevant statement, the traffic will be carried out without interruption in all directions with a bidirectionality of the southern branch, that is, through a twin tunnel “for the safety of which there is no discussion”, as he said.

In particular, in his statement, the Deputy Minister states:

“It is natural that any information regarding the safety of transportation creates a climate of concern among citizens. Since the previous Saturday, we have mobilized, both at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and at the public company “Egnatia Odos SA” that manages the road.

Although in the intervening time the political leadership of the Ministry did not come to the knowledge of any evidence justifying the concerns that triggered the mobilization, I invited the Regional Governor of Epirus, Alexandros Kahrimanis, to visit the disputed tunnel together, accompanied by experienced engineers of the manager company. From the on-site macroscopic inspection, no new data emerged beyond what is already known and concerns the reasonable wear and tear of a tunnel built in the 80s. In no case was the alleged static deficiency of the structure established.

It is important to emphasize that the heavy maintenance and redevelopment of the aging and worn infrastructure of Egnatia Road are scheduled to be carried out systematically and on the basis of the most modern and strict specifications by the concessionaire, with whom the relevant contract was signed just a week ago and with which we have already started the preparation and implementation of the road map of delivery – receipt of the project. The certification of the tunnels and the maintenance of the bridges are the first priority of this obligation.

But because I understand very well the concern that has been created, especially at a time when schools are making trips to some of the most beautiful and popular destinations in the country and many of our fellow citizens are also planning their Easter holidays, the assurances of the political leadership of the Ministry are not enough of Infrastructure and Transport and the managing company to consolidate the sentiment. The conversation with the Mayor of Metsovo, Maria – Christina Averof, confirmed my concern about the escalating consequences on the reliability of a huge investment and a difficult project, which cost more than 7 billion euros, and on the development of the areas it serves.

After all this, I agreed with “Egnatia Odos S.A.” to suspend traffic in the northern branch of the twin tunnels “Malakasi A” towards Igoumenitsa, possibly from today, so that an inspection can be carried out by specialized structural engineers, whose expert report will form the basis for the return or not of the tunnel to traffic. During the time that the tunnel will remain closed, traffic will be carried out without interruption in all directions with a bi-directional route of the southern branch, that is, through a tunnel about the safety of which there is no debate.

I insist that there is no obvious reason to stop traffic in the tunnel, but it is the duty of the state to address the concerns of the citizens, with empathy, seriousness and technocratic competence.

The credibility of the State and the safety of citizens are a non-negotiable priority of the political leadership of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport”.