Olympic projects begin to crumble
Just months after the Olympic Games, some of the works – most of which were completed thanks to a last-minute rush – are showing signs of wear and tear, engineers say. Along the «refurbished» Marathon route and the tramway lines, inadequate or nonexistent drainage works have caused rainwater to accumulate in places. «Until the last moment (before the Games), everyone’s concern was to finish the surface,» Theodoros Dragiotis, secretary-general of the Technical Chamber, said of the Marathon route. «Now, it is necessary to close the route to traffic, in order to complete the drainage works.» As for the 380-million-euro tramway, its construction has blocked drainage in seaside suburbs such as Faliron and Glyfada, making it necessary, experts say, to dismantle the rails in some sections and make the needed adjustments. Drainage problems are also evident along sections of the Attiki Odos ringroad, especially the ones opened to traffic last year, as well as in the complex of flyovers at the Neo Faliron area. The pedestrian bridge over Mesogeion Avenue, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, who also contributed the Olympic Stadium’s roof, has been closed for over a month, because inferior quality wood was used. In the few venues used since the Games, such as the Peace and Friendship Stadium, leaks and problems with electronic equipment have been reported.
