Heraklion has once again announced its annual ritual: the Holy Contract of Asphalt, this time worth 854,070.42 euros, signed with all the ceremonial gravity of people who have definitely heard this speech before.
The Mayor, Alexis Kalokairinos, surrounded by technical officials, emphasised that “road safety is a top priority.” A phrase so familiar that half the city can recite it by heart, preferably while swerving to avoid the exact potholes this project is supposed to fix.
Still, a contract was signed, cameras were present, and the war on craters officially relaunched — just in time for the winter rains to test everyone’s optimism.
The City Says: Immediate Intervention
The reality: “Immediate” is a flexible term in Heraklion.
According to the announcement, the goal is fast repairs wherever there is danger. This is admirable because if the goal were “slow repairs,” we would already be champions.
To be fair, Heraklion’s road network is extensive — both urban and peri-urban — and has been in place for decades. It did not collapse overnight, and it will not be reborn overnight. But the city insists that this time the approach is different:
Find problem → Fix problem → Move to next problem.
A radical innovation, clearly.
The Mayor’s Vision: A City Where People Can Walk Without Acrobatics
The mayor also reminded the public that “road safety includes the ability of people to walk through the city.” A poetic observation, considering that Heraklion’s pavements are either:
- too narrow,
- blocked by parked cars,
- cracked,
- or functioning as surprise obstacle courses.
Still, intentions matter, and the parallel pedestrian-access programme is supposedly moving forward. We shall judge it when ankles stop breaking.
The Deputy Mayor’s Statement: Hope, Asphalt, and More Asphalt
Deputy Mayor of Technical Infrastructure Giorgos Sisamakis added that the new contract complements existing asphalt projects — a sentence which sounds impressive unless one remembers that “existing asphalt projects” is a polite way of saying “roads that were supposed to be fixed already.”
Sisamakis promises coverage of significant hazards, upgrades to road safety, and the immediate start of repairs. Work is scheduled to begin next month and will continue through 2026.
If everything goes as planned, Heraklion might even surpass the eternal cycle of “patch-work-patch-again-next-year.”
What the Contract Actually Covers
Behind the optimistic declarations, the contract has very real obligations:
- Repair of potholes and asphalt deterioration is considered dangerous for road safety
- Immediate intervention upon notification
- Full readiness in cases of extreme weather or emergencies
- Strict coordination with the municipal Technical Services
Translation: the contractor is legally required to show up promptly — which, in this city, is a revolutionary concept.
The Bigger Picture: Road Safety as a Chronic Issue
The announcement claims that this project was a “priority of the Municipal Authority.” This is true. But so was the last one. And the one before.
Heraklion’s roads suffer from:
- age,
- overloaded traffic,
- lack of drainage,
- and decades of patching instead of rebuilding.
854,000 euros will help — but it will not solve the fundamental structural problem.
It is a treatment, not a cure.
Yes, road repairs are necessary and overdue. As long as Heraklion keeps treating symptoms instead of addressing the roots — such as infrastructure planning, drainage, parking management, and actual enforcement — potholes will remain a seasonal tradition.
In Conclusion
Heraklion is once again sharpening its shovels for the great battle against asphalt decay. If the promises hold — rapid intervention, prioritised zones, real pedestrian improvements — the city might genuinely see progress.
If not, we will meet again next year, with the same contract, same amount, same statements, and same holes.
But let us be optimistic. If nothing else, at least the press release filled the gaps — even if the roads have not yet.
