After many months’ delay…
After many months’ delay, work started yesterday on the second part of the project to create a 1.7-kilometer-long walkway linking the main ancient sites of Athens. Following the completion of works on Dionysiou Areopagitou Street leading from Vassilisis Amalias Avenue to the Acropolis, as of yesterday drivers can no longer use Apostolou Pavlou Street, from the Acropolis to the Thiseion area. Work should be completed by 2003. Sections of the Philopappus Hill ring road will also be closing down. The cathedral, built between 1842-62 in accordance with a number of plans by four successive architects, developed extensive cracks and structural damage following the September 1999 Athens earthquake. It had already been due for repairs after the 1981 earthquake, but these never materialized. Despite its battered state, the building has remained open to worshipers over the past 27 months. Its precarious state was one of the main concerns of Athens Metro builders tunneling from Syntagma to Monastiraki stations.
