Study under way for repairs to Akrotiri roof
The Museum of Contemporary Art to be housed in the former Fix factory has hit another snag with the contractors. Work has not started at the site of Akrotiri, let alone the assignment of work. How will you activate projects that are blocked at the study stage, by contractors or for which there is no money? Are state projects at the mercy of contractors? It is crazy that the museum at Fix cannot go ahead and the money is lost because two donkeys are squabbling in someone else’s field. But there are procedures that the minister cannot sidestep. Remember that the competition for the project has been completed and, at present, has been temporarily assigned. Meanwhile, a protest by another competitor, who has questioned the progress of the project, has yet to be heard by the European Commission. As for the archaeological site of Akrotiri, on Santorini, foreign firms are working on the study for repairs to the roof. And an order has been issued to expedite work on the site in general until the bureaucratic procedures have been completed. I have spent many hours in my office with the people involved, discussing how to get the project moving. When do you think the Akrotiri site will open again? The weight-bearing structure of the existing roof must be reinforced without changing its architectural design. Work is being done on the surrounding areas, guardhouse, ticket office and auxiliary buildings. I’m optimistic because the situation has eased. At one point the project was in danger of being stopped.
