Shortcuts, they say, could prove costly, but locals near the city of Larissa in Greece are not deterred by the potential consequences of their actions, even if it means driving over a collapsed bridge spanning a river.
There is a strong possibility that the collapsed bridge could give way entirely, but residents and farmers don’t mind driving their vehicles, even heavy pickup trucks, over it.
The bridge was meant to connect the village to the town, but it collapsed three years ago. Unfortunately, a new bridge has yet to be built.
However, authorities did not even clear the old bridge for a new one to be built there, and the locals are just making use of what is left.
Locals Prioritize Shortcuts Over Their Lives
According to a post by LarissaNet, the bridge collapsed in September 2023 due to rising water from Storm Daniel, cutting the route between the Municipality of Tempi and the Municipality of Agia.
The third anniversary arrives in less than two months, and the locals continue to use the collapsed bridge while travelers who are unaware that the bridge has collapsed end up reversing their vehicles after driving up to the point where the road slopes abruptly.
To reach the other side, travelers then take the longer route, adding “dozens of additional kilometers via the National Road” to their trip, something the locals prefer avoiding.
Drone footage shared by the media outlet shows a pickup truck driving over the collapsed bridge rather smoothly, making it appear as though there is nothing wrong with the bridge.
My Way or the Highway?
Quite obviously, common sense dictates that nobody should use that collapsed bridge, no matter how long the detour is, because there is a high risk of the structure falling into the river running beneath it.
For now, the bridge appears to be held up in the middle by the concrete support that must have originally held the pillars in place before the storm washed them away.
But it will only be a matter of time before the support gives way, or before the remaining supports fail on either end of the bridge. An additional load, such as that of a vehicle, could further deteriorate the collapsed bridge.
Thus, authorities could have at least adopted measures to ensure nobody uses the collapsed bridge, even if it meant taking a longer detour through the highway to reach the other side.
Using the collapsed bridge as part of their daily commute might save time, but it puts their lives at risk. Shortcuts may seem convenient until the day they come at a devastating cost.