Trucks have been “trapped” in various parts of the Athens-Lamia National Highway due to the traffic ban on heavy vehicles over 3.5 tones because of the snow that ultimately …did not fall in the area.
Truck owners and drivers are angry and speak of a “fiasco” as there is neither snow nor rain problem on the highway, since the bad weather front “Avgi” hit the central-south Greece.
They talk about a fiasco since there is no snow on the road, but despite this the police ask them to make a U-turn for Athens.
“There are about 50 trucks are at the scene and on side roads in Varybompi and another 250 colleagues are in Thebes,” one driver reportedly complained.
“We are not allowed to leave the area despite the fact that there are no problems due to the bad weather,” the man added.
“I am coming from Sparta bound for Volos. We carry perishable agricultural products that will spoil. We will take damage for no reason. This whole thing is a fiasco. It is not snowing, nor is it even raining now,” another driver stressed.
“We are without food since yesterday [Monday]. What is going to happen? Under the ban are we going to stay here until tomorrow morning [Wednesday] when the ‘ban’ ends? Why?” he pointed out.
50 trucks in Malgara
At least 50 trucks have been stranded at the Malgara toll road in Thessaloniki due to a traffic ban and snow weather front “Avgi.”
Most drivers are from Poland, Bulgaria, Turkey and Serbia, state broadcaster ERT reported earlier today.
Only drivers with documents proving that they will travel as far as Volos can pass through the toll road, as the rest of the road network is prohibited for heavy vehicles due to the Avgi bad weather, which is expected to peak today.
According to ERT, many drivers do not even know the exact reason why they were told to stop and they seem willing to wait until Wednesday, when the ban for heavy vehicles is expected to be lifted.
Drivers can take advantage of the route to Athens via the Ionian Highway, however, this means much higher transport cost due the increase of the number of kilometers they have to cover, so drivers seem to prefer to wait until the roads are open.
PS a friend of mine and I were surprised and started to laugh in the morning when we saw the report showing the parked trucks on clean asphalt, sun and blue skies.
ah, but they must remember that this is greece! it’s governmentally decreed snow and rain, diesnt have to have anything to do with precipitation falling out of clouds, no no , we have our or politician-determined alternate reality here!
what those truckers need to get is a ‘certificate of no snow’ from the relevant ministry!