In Greece, drivers risk their lives every day by crossing a damaged bridge to save 15 minutes

In central Greece, residents continue to use the Palaiopyrgos Bridge over the Pinios River, even though it was seriously damaged during the devastating Daniel storm in September 2023. The structure is officially considered unsafe and has been taken out of service, yet many motorists continue to cross it every day, preferring the risk to a lengthy detour.

The bridge is located in the Thessaly region, near the city of Larissa, and used to connect the settlements of Palaiopyrgos and Alexandrini. After the catastrophic flooding, the powerful flow of water undermined the supports, and part of the concrete structure sagged and effectively collapsed. Despite this, the remaining section of the bridge has not been completely closed to traffic, which is why local residents continue to use it.

According to local farmers and residents, the alternative route runs along the national highway and adds around 30 kilometres to the journey, or approximately 15–20 minutes depending on the direction. For those who travel to work or to their farmland every day, this means additional time and fuel costs. Many admit that they are literally «playing with death» to save time.

The situation becomes particularly dangerous after rainfall, when the water level in the river rises and the damaged section is almost at the level of the flow. Local authorities have repeatedly warned that another major flood could destroy the structure completely or turn it into a kind of dam, increasing the risk of flooding in nearby settlements.

A project to build a new bridge has already been approved and the contract has been signed, but construction work has still not begun. Residents of the region criticise the protracted bureaucratic procedures and the lack of a temporary solution, as the unsafe bridge remains the only convenient way to get between the two banks of the river.

The Daniel storm, which struck Greece in September 2023, became one of the most devastating natural disasters in the country’s modern history. In some parts of Thessaly, a record amount of rainfall fell within 24 hours; dozens of bridges and roads were destroyed, 17 people died, and the economic damage was estimated at more than $2 billion. It was after this disaster that the Palaiopyrgos Bridge became unfit for use, yet almost three years later many drivers continue to cross it, putting themselves in danger every day.