The leadership of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport announced at a press conference that work to repair damage recorded in buildings in Kypseli, along the route of the Athens Metro Line 4 tunnel boring machine, would begin immediately.
It also made clear that construction work on the project would resume only after the independent scientific assessment had been completed and all necessary safety conditions had been met.
As was emphasised, restoration work would proceed independently of the timetable for resuming construction, with the aim of making buildings in the area safer and more resilient than they were before the tunnel boring machine passed beneath them.
C. Dimas: “The safety of residents and their property is our top priority”
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Dimas stressed that the area is one of the most challenging sections of Line 4 because of its particular technical and geological conditions.
He said similar challenges had arisen on major infrastructure projects abroad, adding that the government had already approached the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE), which had been appointed as the independent expert to assess the condition of the buildings.
He also said that foreign experts with proven experience on similar projects would provide assistance.
“The government is consciously making the safety of residents and their property, and the safe resumption of work, its top priority,” Mr Dimas said, adding that the aim was to carry out all necessary work in conditions of complete safety.
The minister categorically rejected any suggestion of a failure to act in handling the issue, saying that all prescribed protocols had been followed at every stage of the project and that repair work had already begun in the spring.
“There has been no failure to act. This is an extremely difficult project, which is why cooperation among everyone involved is essential,” he said.
On the timetable for resuming construction, he said work would restart once the independent assessment had been completed and the necessary scientific evidence was available.
“We do not want to lose time, but we are making the safety of residents and their property our priority,” he stressed.
N. Tachiaos: Building repairs are independent of the project’s resumption
Infrastructure and Transport Deputy Minister Nikos Tachiaos made clear that work to repair the buildings was entirely independent of the resumption of construction on Line 4.
As he explained, if vulnerability assessments identify a need, additional strengthening work will be carried out on both the buildings and the ground beneath them to ensure the conditions are in place for the project to continue safely.
A British expert with substantial experience in similar technical projects will also contribute to the assessment.
Mr Tachiaos stressed that the strictest safety criteria had been adopted, adding that cooperation with residents was essential to carrying out the work effectively.
According to the information presented, inspections have been carried out on 35 of the 87 buildings beneath which the tunnel boring machine passes.
G. Stasinos: The aim is to make buildings safer than before the tunnel boring machine passed
Technical Chamber of Greece President Giorgos Stasinos outlined the technical work required, presenting the findings to date from site inspections and related reports.
He said the initial restoration work involved 14 buildings beneath which the tunnel boring machine had passed and for which the TEE had prepared interim technical reports. A further six buildings were added to the process last week.
According to Mr Stasinos, the proposed work includes repairing damage as well as strengthening specific structural elements where necessary. Any further work needed to reinforce the structures will also be identified.
He drew particular attention to the age of the area’s building stock, noting that many buildings were erected in the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and 1960s and already showed signs of wear or had pre-existing damage.
He also pointed out that the ground beneath Kypseli has distinctive hydrological characteristics, with erosion observed in underground spaces.
“The ultimate aim is to make the buildings safer and more resilient than they were before the tunnel boring machine passed,” he stressed.
The TEE president said each building would be assessed individually, taking into account its particular construction characteristics and its repair or strengthening needs.
Where the work requires residents to leave temporarily, the relevant authorities will make arrangements for them to be rehoused, it was noted.
Mr Stasinos stressed that all necessary work should be carried out, regardless of the severity of the damage, in consultation with residents and property owners.
He estimated that the first immediate work could begin as early as the following day, noting that the sooner the work starts, the more effective the restoration process will be.
Kypseli’s geological characteristics
Demetris Anagnostopoulos, secretary-general of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, outlined the particular characteristics of the ground beneath the area, noting that it has weak geological conditions.
He clarified that these conditions were known and had been taken into account when the project studies were prepared.
AVAX: Work already under way on three buildings
Mr Mintzalis, representing construction company AVAX, said restoration work had already begun on three buildings in the area.
He added that crews were available to extend the work immediately, in cooperation with residents and Elliniko Metro.
He said the company’s aim was to carry out the work swiftly and reliably, repairing the damage and restoring the safety of the structures.
Next steps
Completion of the independent technical assessments, immediate repairs and possible strengthening work on buildings and the ground beneath them are now the key steps in addressing the problems in Kypseli.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport says that work on Line 4 will resume on the basis of the findings of the scientific assessments, with the safety of residents and the protection of their property the decisive conditions for restarting the project.
with information from AMNA