Negotiations between the Public Works Ministry and the consortium that has undertaken to rebuild a notoriously dangerous stretch of national highway between Corinth and Patras have stalled over a dispute about the width of the road, a crucial factor in determining its safety.

The original plan foresees the particular section of highway having two lanes in each direction. But transport experts say this would increase traffic considerably for the duration of the works, an estimated three years, as one lane in each direction would have be cordoned off. Failing to make provision now for a third lane in each direction will make it almost impossible to widen the road in future, experts add.

The greatest concern though is about safety on the Corinth-Patras national highway, the most treacherous stretch of the country’s road network after the Maliakos Gulf section.

A total of 266 people died on the 120-kilometer stretch of asphalt between Corinth and Patras in the period 2000-2004 alone, while another 263 were seriously injured. According to experts, this is chiefly because the road is too narrow and has too many sharp bends and a worn surface. It is also used by far too many vehicles. “The number of vehicles on this road rises to 40,000 or 50,000 at peak times but it has been built to carry a maximum of 18,000 vehicles, so it is really overloaded,” said Vassilis Psarianos, head of the road safety observatory of the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE).

“If the number of lanes is reduced during works, then this highway will become simply impassable,” Psarianos added.