Outdated rules, limited metro collide for ‘unbearable’ Athens gridlock
During rush hour, queues several kilometres long form on Kifissos and Attiki Odos, the main motorways into the capital of 3.8 million – Copyright AFP Theophile Bloudanis
John HADOULIS
Straining to squeeze his taxi between two hulking trucks blocking an Athens street, 66-year-old cabbie Damianos says he’s never seen traffic congestion in the Greek capital this bad.
“It’s unbearable,” groans the veteran who has been behind the wheel the past 14 years.
A mishmash of local traffic plans combined with a burgeoning fleet of cars have worsened the gridlock.
Now the city is counting on new technologies, expanded public transport and eventually a single traffic authority to bring some relief — but improvement will not come fast.
During rush hour, queues several kilometres long form on Kifissos and Attiki Odos, the main motorways into the capital of 3.8 million — and inner streets are not much better off.
An April survey by pollsters Opinion Poll showed that Athenians consider congestion and parking the second gravest concern in
