In Heraklion, pedestrians may finally get a break from playing a live-action version of Frogger. Efforts to safeguard foot traffic—particularly near schools—are ramping up, with 25 raised crosswalks and stretches of shiny new sidewalks being constructed. These upgrades, initiated by the local Public Works Department, aim to inject a dose of logic into urban planning by prioritizing pedestrian safety over vehicular chaos.
A Plan Made of Concrete (Literally)
Heraklion officials, likely fueled by equal parts caffeine and civic duty, have put their energy into making roads more walkable. The genius move? Raised crosswalks and extended sidewalks that don’t just vanish into nowhere. The first phase focuses on building these sidewalks, which stretch to school entrances and other critical points. Once the foundations are laid, asphalt will rise to slow down vehicle traffic—a sneaky win for common sense.
Here’s how the grand plan stacks up:
- 25 raised crosswalks under construction across key intersections.
- Hundreds of meters of sidewalk expansion linking roads and school zones.
- Targeted areas include zones with tricky vehicle navigation near schools and busy intersections.
Anticipation is high, as this initiative marks a step toward treating pedestrian safety as a feature, not an afterthought.
Locations for Raised Crosswalks
Take a look at where these developments are happening. The joke’s on speed demons: there’s no escaping these changes. Key intersections include:
- Patriarchou Fotiou Street and Foinikos Street
- Atlantidos Street and Lappa Street
- Pitsoulaki Street and Itanou Street
- Various locations along M. Archangelou Street
- Popular school zones like Empedocleous and Kondilaki
To date, construction has already been completed in 14 locations, with sidewalks stretching over 1,400 meters now open to pedestrians. Areas like the intersection of Atlantidos and Lappa boast 160 meters of fresh pathways, while others near school complexes feature walkable improvements of up to 320 meters.
Not Exactly a New Idea, but at Least It’s Happening Now
This €2.7 million project, originally greenlit by the previous municipal administration, is finally seeing the light of day under the current leadership. Funded through the ambitious “Greece 2.0” Recovery and Resilience Plan, the initiative underscores the importance of pedestrian-first strategies, albeit with a touch of “better late than never.”
These upgrades will help inch the city away from being a free-for-all for vehicles. Expect raised crossings to slow down drivers more effectively than speed bumps nobody notices and broader sidewalks to give pedestrians something other than oncoming traffic to focus on.
The updates don’t just aim at aesthetics but bring functionality where needed—near schools, busy roads, and intersections that once seemed designed solely to inspire chaos.