Μake us preferred on Google A residential building containing approximately 20 apartments on Spetses Street in Kypseli, which sustained serious damage during construction of Athens Metro Line 4, is entering a critical phase of restoration. The damage occurred during tunnel excavation by the tunnel-boring machine (TBM).
The apartment building is one of several located directly above the point where the TBM came to a halt on May 8. According to reports, structural reinforcement work is due to begin during the day to ensure the building’s stability and protect residents, while also paving the way for construction of the new Metro line to resume.
When Will the Tunnel-Boring Machine Return?
Although the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has yet to provide a clear timetable for restarting the TBM, Deputy Minister Nikos Tachiaos said at a recent conference organized by the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) that work is not expected to resume before the start of the new year.
On Monday, engineers visited Kypseli and carried out a series of measurements in preparation for inspections of the foundations of apartment buildings in the coming days.
It is worth recalling that work to expose the walls of damaged buildings began only about three weeks ago. This will allow engineers to determine whether the structural columns have been affected and, consequently, whether the buildings’ structural integrity has been compromised.
Engineers from the Technical Chamber of Greece need approximately 40 days to prepare an assessment for each building under inspection. This makes it difficult for all the reports to be completed and submitted before the end of the year.
Residents Face Winter With Cracks and Water Leaks
Meanwhile, anxiety remains high among residents of the damaged apartment buildings. They are increasingly concerned as they realize that the inspection and restoration process is complex and time-consuming, while they still have no clear indication of when they will be able to return to normal life.
Their concerns are mounting as winter approaches, with low temperatures and rainfall creating additional difficulties in their daily lives. In some apartments, rainwater is entering homes through cracks that have appeared in the buildings.
One striking example is an apartment on the top floor of a building on Kypselis Street, where rainwater is reportedly seeping even into a bedroom closet. Particular concern has also been raised over an apartment building on Evvoias Street, which, according to reports, has shifted 7 to 8 centimeters away from the neighboring building.
Meanwhile, residents in the area are waiting for approval to organize another meeting, possibly on Friday afternoon, at Athens City Hall, where they hope to receive an update on developments so far and the next steps.
They are also calling for a new meeting with the political leadership of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the management of Elliniko Metro, representatives of the construction consortium and the Technical Chamber of Greece. Their main demand is a clear and binding timetable for completing the inspections and repairing the damage.
