The dramatic state of the road network in Kythera has caused intense debate, frustration and justified reactions in recent times. It is understandable and perfectly legitimate that two important, but at the same time extremely troublesome, projects are being carried out on the island: the major sewage project and the critical upgrade of the water supply network. This inevitably translates into dozens of kilometres of dug-up roads.
However, the problem is not with the projects themselves, but with the lack of organisation. Citizens complain daily about the inadequacy of the management of their daily lives: traffic chaos, poor to non-existent signage on closed roads and unjustified delays in restorations of the roadway. In the midst of all this suffering, the Municipal Authority denounces from the residents and the opposition as characteristically «absent», leaving the island on autopilot.
In an attempt to calm tempers, the contractor of the water supply project gave an explanation yesterday. In its statement, the contractor attributed the delay in paving to the weather conditions, but also made a very specific claim: «The maintenance works of the local bitumen mix preparation plant, which were carried out in the month of March did not allow the production of material on days when there were good weather conditions. It is stressed that it is not possible to transport ready-mixed asphalt from Laconia as neither the existing weather conditions [...] nor the existing ferry routes allow this.».
An important clarification about the materials available
The above reports brought to the fore the positioning of the local construction company «Protopsaltis Bros», whose representatives in communication with Kythera.News offered a more complete picture on the issue.
As they recalled, on the island of Kythera two - not one - packing plants are active asphalt mix. The company explained that its own facility operates smoothly and has the possibility of immediate disposal asphalt mix.
Time to take responsibility
After this development, the issue ceases to be technical and becomes political. The Municipal Authority seems to wash its hands of the matter, hiding behind the contractors - exposing them, in fact, inelegantly to public opinion. Why doesn't he answer; why does he have the engineers in charge? Is there anyone who actually cares about the daily lives of the Cirigoians?;
It is now imperative that there be immediate better coordination between the Municipality, Technical Services and manufacturers. Speeding up the restoration work is a one-way street for the safety of drivers and pedestrians, especially as the island prepares to welcome Easter and summer visitors.
More responsibility and basic empathy is finally required from the administration of the Municipality. We have said it before. The residents of this place are suffering every day, putting their property and physical integrity at risk on the broken streets. They are not just numbers, nor are they given voters for the next ballot box. Tolerance has run out, and so have the excuses.
Bitumen, as it turned out, exists. The political will to close the holes exists?;
Kythera.News
P.S.: All this time, at Kythera.News we have consciously chosen to maintain an attitude of patience and understanding towards the Municipal Authority. We have avoided «exploiting» the issue for the sake of easy sensationalism or to gain favours - something that the head of the Technical Department of our Municipality can confirm. We acknowledge that since the end of 2024 we have experienced a difficult period, especially this past winter, in terms of the road network. But in difficult times you don't hide, you don't let others speak for you. In difficult times you are out in front, in the field, on the front line. We in our village in Alexandradades, we happened to produce worthy captains. And they taught us that a good captain can be seen in a storm. And he never leaves the bridge.
