The Endless Battle of Greek Roads: Coordination and Accountability in Public Works

“Please do not park. Roadworks will be carried out tomorrow.” This simple, hastily written notice—often stuck on paper and left on the pavement—is a common sight across Greece. Beneath this small inconvenience lies a bigger issue: roads and avenues, even freshly paved ones, are frequently dug up by one utility only to be excavated again by another, leaving a trail of poorly patched surfaces, potholes, and cracks. The result is a chaotic landscape, hazardous to vehicles and pedestrians alike. Tragically, potholes have even caused fatalities.

In Nafplio, a single road has been dug up 57 times within a short period. In Trikala, Farmaki Street was paved, only to be excavated two months later for sewage works, followed by additional digging for gas pipelines. Meanwhile, in Kifissia, the municipality had to rely on sponsorships to repair its heavily potholed roads using high-quality asphalt. This lack of coordination among contractors—digging repeatedly for internet, electricity, gas, and water projects—has created an inefficient system where the same roads are endlessly torn apart.

Enter e-Dielevsis: A Digital Solution

To address this recurring problem, the Ministry of Digital Governance and the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) introduced e-Dielevsis, an online platform aimed at coordinating public works and minimizing disruption. This digital tool allows municipalities, contractors, and utility companies to manage excavation permits and collaborate on project timelines.

Launched in September 2024, e-Dielevsis enables utility providers to electronically submit permit applications, complete with supporting documents and technical plans. Municipalities can process these applications digitally, track progress in real time, and create digital records of all permits issued. This system significantly reduces bureaucracy, facilitates better planning, and prevents multiple excavations of the same road within a short time.

From the platform’s launch until January 2025, 270 municipalities across Greece and most of the country’s regions have registered. To date, over 200 applications have been submitted, with more than 130 excavation permits already granted, primarily for the installation of optical fiber networks.

Coordinating Utility Works

One of the platform’s key features is its ability to enforce coordination among contractors. For example:

• When a telecom provider submits a road excavation application, other providers are notified and have five days to submit their own requests for work on the same road. Once the period passes, no additional permits for that road will be granted for six months.
• Similarly, municipalities and regions planning roadworks must notify the platform 60 days in advance. Other contractors must then apply for excavation permits within this window or risk being blocked from digging in the same area for six months.

The Ministry of Digital Governance plans to expand the system to include additional utility services, such as water and electricity. The ultimate goal is to ensure that all public works are carried out in a structured and coordinated manner, reducing disruption for citizens and maintaining the integrity of road surfaces.

Potholes: A National Crisis

Greece has long struggled with poorly maintained roads, riddled with potholes that pose safety risks and lead to costly repairs. Potholes are a leading cause of road accidents, often resulting in serious injuries or fatalities. They also have economic implications: vehicles sustain damage, and municipalities face lawsuits and compensation claims from affected drivers.

In Europe, over 20 million potholes are reported annually, costing more than €1.2 billion in repairs. Greece’s roads rank 20th among EU countries for quality, with municipalities frequently citing legal loopholes and contractor negligence as major obstacles to improvement.

One of the key issues is the legal framework governing public works. Currently, utility companies are not required to obtain permits for emergency maintenance, and restoration work is often subpar. Contractors frequently use low-quality materials, resulting in temporary fixes that quickly deteriorate, especially during heavy rains.

Municipal Initiatives

Despite these challenges, some municipalities are taking proactive steps. For example:

• In Athens, contractors are now required to provide before-and-after photos of their work, a technical restoration report, and a performance guarantee of €30,000 per square meter for roads paved within the last 12 months.
• In Kifissia, the municipality has partnered with sponsors to repair potholes using high-strength asphalt and has deployed 24/7 crews to address urgent damage.
• Digital platforms like Novoville allow citizens to report road issues in real time, streamlining the repair process.

However, mayors across Greece emphasize the need for systemic change. They call for centralized planning and stricter enforcement of restoration standards to ensure that public works are completed efficiently and roads are properly maintained.

Moving Forward

Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou highlights the importance of expanding broadband infrastructure to support Greece’s economic and social development. However, he acknowledges that better coordination and stricter oversight are essential to minimize disruption and improve road quality.

“e-Dielevsis was a long-standing demand from municipalities and utility providers,” Papastergiou says. “By reducing bureaucracy and improving collaboration, we are minimizing inconvenience for citizens and addressing chronic issues like poor road restoration.”

While the platform alone cannot solve all the problems associated with Greece’s damaged roads, it represents a crucial first step toward better planning, accountability, and safety. For a country where potholes have become a national symbol of frustration, initiatives like e-Dielevsis offer hope for smoother roads ahead.