'Scanning' and lifting in 40 footbridges

In full « scanning » 40 pedestrian network on the Athens Metro Network (formerly ISAP), but also on the footbridge of the Chalandri Station, Doukissis Plakentias Street, on Line 3, which have been controlled for about 20 years, the company is moving on.

The aim is to identify possible signs of deterioration or wear and to immediately launch all the necessary interventions and repairs.

The management of STASY has already announced a relevant tender for the selection of a private contractor to undertake all the inspection, evaluation, maintenance and rehabilitation operations of all the footsteps on its network.

Specifically, the autopsies will be made in a total of 40 footsteps made above the lines of the former electric railway (ISAP), but also on the big footbridge at the 3 « Chalandri » line, which is the only one that has been built after 2004. This footbridge has no more than 6 meters old!

The deadline for submitting the bids by interested parties is March 24, 2025, with the duration of the contract set within 12 months of its signature. Only for the control of the footsteps and the drafting of the relevant proposals for interventions, a funds of EUR 184,636 have been provided, including VAT.

According to STASY executives, they are footbridges in areas and stations from Kifissia to Piraeus.

All foot bridges are made of reinforced concrete, steel or are composite steel and concrete or concrete structures.

In particular, the footbridges will be checked in KAT, Marousi, Irene, Heraklion, Perissos, Ano Patisia, Agios Eleftherios, Kato Patisia, Agios Nikolaos, Monastiraki, Thissio, Petralona, ​​Kallithea, Moschato, Faliro and Piraeus, and all of Piraeus. They are footbridges 6-8 meters long, 19-24 meters, as well as the large footbridge in Chalandri (Metro Line), 43.5 meters long.

Checks will include the basic inspection, which is done macroscopically, and where it is necessary, more specialized autopsies with special equipment will follow.

Depending on the findings and possible damage to be identified, the contractor will propose the necessary rehabilitation projects, as well as the time they will have to go ahead to precede the most urgent.

The measures that may need to be taken are the main inspection, the rehabilitation study in combination with a detailed inspection, and the restriction or exclusion of the circulation of users (citizens and trains) should not be excluded if this is deemed necessary for their safe passage.

As stated in the STASY's notice, « the holistic approach to the inspection, evaluation, maintenance and restoration of all footsteps, constituting part of the country's national wealth of the country's bridges, aims to achieve a high level of safety, functionality and aesthetics for any pedestrian ».

At the same time, it is added, « prevents and prevents situations that could lead to loss of vital communication, public and private property networks and, most importantly, prevent situations that could endanger human life. »

It is noted that Line 1 of STASY (ISAP) connects the port of Piraeus with Kifissia, serving a 25.7 km long route.

It has 24 stations and most of it is terrestrial, while the only underground section (tunnels) is Monastiraki – Attica in downtown Athens, 3.2 kilometers long.

Several footbridge has been constructed for the connection of the residential areas where Line 1 divides « in two ». The older ones date before 1960, while the most recent, such as the footbridge near Neratziotissa Station, was built in 2004.

The latest general inspection and repair of the pedigen in line 1 was carried out in 2007, as part of the project « Bridge Repair on the entire ISAP SA network ». For this reason, it is now necessary to inspect the pedigenry in order to evaluate their current condition and to propose specific methods for their maintenance-repair.

Along with this work, the collection and gathering of all the necessary information will proceed so that all footbridges can be included in the bridge register, in which many bodies are intense to include their competence projects, as they do not have resources for regular maintenance.

However, the responsibility of maintenance of bridges, as well as other infrastructure, has a fragmentation.

At the same time, STASY, a public transport operation company that does not have specialized scientists in its potential, has 40 footprints only in line 1, which it is called upon to maintain.

It is noted that the Stasy area of ​​responsibility also belongs to the « Kalatrava » bridge on Mesogeion Avenue, which is constituted.