Flood-proof Kifissos railway bridge delayed
Rejecting an army offer of two prefabricated steel bridges to carry the Athens electric railway safely over the flood-prone Kifissos River, the government said yesterday it would build a permanent structure of its own early next year. Earlier this month, the army said it would construct – in cooperation with the railway company (ISAP) – two free-standing Bailey bridges to replace the present, low-slung structure, which stands on two masonry piers that block some 50 percent of the river’s flow when the Kifissos rises in spate. Currently, when it rains heavily, the railway line is cut in two as ISAP trains cannot cross the flooded bridge. This was due for completion at the end of December. But yesterday, Public Works Minister Vasso Papandreou said the ministry would start work in early January on a permanent railway bridge as well as two temporary bridges to replace the structure carrying Pireos Street over the river.
