The Region of Crete has thrown open the gates—figuratively, since actual gates might violate local traffic laws—on the 2.6-kilometer bit of the Old National Road known to locals, taxi drivers, and anyone with fragile shock absorbers as “Kakou Oros.” This momentous reappearance in the network of Cretan roads occurred on Great Thursday, April 17, 2025, timed suspiciously well for the upcoming tsunami of tourists. To set the mood: the stretch sits between the Episcopi junction and the Arena Hotel, a lovely spot for anyone fascinated by the unique concept of coastal hairpin turns.
Yes, after months of excavation, resurfacing, and the kind of metaphorical hand-wringing that only civil servants can muster, the road is back. Gone are the days of playing “dodge the pothole” or “guess the faded sign.” Instead, drivers get a reinforced roadbed, fresh lines, and guardrails that might help if you meet a stray herd of goats.
What Changed on the Kakou Oros Road Section, and Should Drivers Care?
Let’s not sugarcoat it. The upgrades included a complete pavement overhaul, slope adjustments (so cars don’t have to imitate mountain goats), and new barriers along the seaside cliff, replacing the ones that previously looked ready to retire. Road signs got a makeover, and if you trusted the faded white lines from last year, brace yourself: they’re back and brighter than a politician’s promise.
Here is a quick summary for the navigationally challenged:
- 2.6 kilometers resurfaced between Episkopi junction and Arena Hotel;
- Old asphalt: gone. New layers: in place;
- Slope angles reworked so your car stays grounded;
- Sea-facing guardrails replaced with modern versions;
- Updated road signage;
- Concrete drainage ditch added on the southern side;
- Culverts cleaned and widened;
- Dual asphalt layers for extra smoothness;
- Road markings refreshed (no more guessing lanes in the fog);
- Wastewater pressure pipe laid as a concurrent project by the Hersonissos Water Authority;
- Telecom companies nudged (politely or otherwise) to upgrade their networks while the road was open.
Meanwhile, the construction team claims to have coordinated with telecom giants, although anyone who’s tried making a call out there might question the success of those “improvements.”
Nikos Skoulas, Vice Governor of Technical Projects and local expert in all things with flashing hazard lights, declared, “We are delivering this road section quickly, as the tourist season begins, while keeping infrastructure quality high. The political oversight of Regional Governor Stavros Arnaoutakis and the cooperation of the Technical Services Department with the Municipality of Hersonissos were decisive in achieving our goal and delivering this project to traffic.”
He seemed genuinely pleased with the pace and, apparently, the style of the delivery. Expectations were met—or maybe just lowered.
Why Bother? Wasn’t the Road “Good Enough” Already?
“Good enough” is a dangerous phrase—especially in road maintenance. If you ask the drivers who regularly risked the old route, the most scenic part was missing the crumpled guardrails. Previous incidents and perennially poor drainage left a reminder (often on your bumper) that changes were long overdue.
And if you weren’t paying attention, last year, the Technical Projects Department resurfaced parts of the road from the Equestrian Club to Episkopi junction and another stretch from the Arena Hotel to the edge of Gournes and Kokkin Chani. These upgrades brought as much relief as a working air conditioner in August.
What Did the Work Involve?
Let’s itemize, because who doesn’t love a list:
- Milling away the old road surface (farewell, patchwork years);
- Installing a concrete-lined drainage ditch (so water can find a hobby besides flooding the asphalt);
- Cleaning and widening culverts (for the rain, not the politics);
- Shaping road slopes (finally, a curve that won’t test your suspension);
- Removing and updating ancient safety rails and putting in regulation-compliant replacements;
- Swapping out tired traffic signs and adding some new ones for good measure;
- Two fresh layers of asphalt (just in case the first one gets lonely);
- Road lines drawn with the confidence of someone who’s seen too many accidents;
- Installation of a wastewater pressure main (to keep more than just traffic flowing);
- Parallel work and strong advice to telecom companies: improve your cables.
The project lasted three months and was executed as part of the contract “Improving Road Safety of P.E.O. 90 between Kastelli Kissamou and Kalo Chorio Lasithiou.” As for the cash: all courtesy of the Recovery and Resilience Fund, which from the looks of it, is finally doing something that doesn’t require a slogan.
