Everyday life in the center of Patras is expected to change. The day before yesterday, the city council voted in favor of the traffic changes, as proposed in a special study that was prepared and describes what will change for the movement of vehicles in the city’s main streets.
With a horizon of 2026, in the center of Patras, Corinthou, Kanakari, Maizonos (from Aratos until October 28), Zaimi, Aratos, Konstantinoupoleos streets are expected to be rerouted, while Agia Sophia will be rerouted. In other words, vehicle traffic in the center will be very different compared to today, as the main roads that will remain as they are are Agios Andreou, which will continue to function as an exit from the city, and Othonos Amalias, which will function as an entrance.
The two maps show the traffic load in the morning and at noon based on the worst case scenario for vehicle traffic in 2026. In the morning Othonos Amalias is “orange” and at noon “red” without the cycle path being included in the study
We remind you that shortly after Easter, work will begin in Maizonos, since as part of the redevelopment of the Lower Town, Patras will acquire a new pedestrian street. The works are expected to start from Olgas Square to Georgiou Square during the summer and the rest of the section up to Gounari will be executed in the second half of 2024.
However, every sweeping change that comes to our lives cannot but be accompanied by concern about whether it will improve the living and operating conditions of the city. Such concerns were also expressed by the head of the “Patra Great Again” faction, Vassilis Aivalis. The former president of the TEE of Western Greece, having sufficient knowledge in such matters, analyzed the – now voted – study and expressed concerns.
He himself voted in favor of the changes with some reservations, but indicated that it is important for the city’s highest decision-making body to have people with knowledge and without blinkers in it.
Vassilis Aivalis, during the discussion of the change of traffic regulations in the city, proved that the designer has not taken into account the Othonos-Amalia cycle path in the traffic load measurements of his study. An Othonos-Amalias that the study (without the existence of the cycle path) comes out particularly burdened, by the proposed traffic changes.
Already from the time the bike path was built, there have been minor traffic incidents on the Othonos-Amalias beach with traffic jams lasting a few minutes. What will happen once the traffic map of the city changes and Maisonos ceases to function as an entrance? From 2026, will Corinth be able to absorb the traffic load towards the center of Patras, or will Othonos-Amalias be burdened additionally?
These are questions that, since they were not analyzed in the traffic study, will be answered in practice when all the changes are implemented.
Despite this, Vassilis Aivalis voted with reservations for the approval of the study with the logic that the wide pedestrianization of the center of Patras should proceed, also stressing that spaces should be found in the city center to serve the parking of permanent residents.
This is the second main reservation of Mr. Aivalis. He characteristically said at yesterday’s meeting: “We did not foresee even in old Patras how the permanent residents will be served. If the same thing happens in the Lower City, it will be a disaster.”
SETTINGS IN SUMMARY
The most important changes voted for on Wednesday are as follows:
Corinth (from El. Venizelos to Agios Sophias): road reversal, traffic lights reversed, new traffic lights at the junctions Corinth – G. Olympia, Corinth – Smyrna and Corinth – Arch. Ierotheou, no parking on the side towards the sea, no cancellation taxi, loading/unloading, disabled etc. positions, which are transferred to the other side of the road.
Navarino (N. Epirus to Papaflessa): retracement, new traffic lights on the junctions Navarinou – Arch. Ierotheou, Navarinou – Smyrni, Navarinou – G. Olympiou and Navarinou – Papaflessa, and the same changes as in Corinth for parking.
Kanakari: reconstruction of the road (Papaflessa to Agia Sophia), reversal of traffic lights, new traffic lights (at the junctions Kanakari – Aratos, Kanakari – 28th of October, Kanakari – Agia Sofia, parking ban on the side towards the mountain (except Valtetsiou – Norman which will be banned from both sides)
Agia Sophia (Corinth to El. Stratioto): bidirectional as a two-way street, modification of existing traffic lights, no parking on the side towards the center and will be allowed on the side towards Rio.
In addition, the following roads are being demolished: Arato (Androutsou to Agios Andreou), Zaime, Major (Arato until October 28), of Constantinople (October 28th to St. Sophia) and Androutsou (Satovriandou to Arato).
Urban and long-distance traffic from north to south will pass through Corinthou street, while from south to north they will pass through Kanakari – Aratou – Maizonos Konstantinoupoleos – Ag. Sophia etc.
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