Tinos: geotechnical survey at Kionia and Agios Fokas

The Municipal Committee of Tinos unanimously approved a multi-level agreement with the South Aegean Regional Authority. The subject is the preparation of geotechnical and geological investigation in the areas of Kionia and Agios Fokas. With this arrangement, the Municipality transfers implementation responsibility to the Regional Authority, which undertakes both the tender and the conduct of the study. Tinos Mayor Panagiotis Krontiraras stated that these are precisely the locations for which Tinos was declared in a state of emergency a few months ago, and noted that repair funding of 1.2 million euro from the Region has already been approved for damage at these sites.

The choice to precede studies rather than directly undertake work is reflected in the position articulated by the mayor: the goal, as he stated, is not temporary repairs but a permanent solution, which is why geotechnical and geological investigation comes first. According to what he said, these locations have seen repeated interventions in the past—initially by the Nomarchia and subsequently by the Region—yet the problem has not been solved. The repetition of failures at the same sites is the reason why subsurface documentation of causes is now being sought before determining the repair method.

An additional factor explaining the need for a multi-level agreement is the ownership status of the network: the affected segments belong partly to the regional and partly to the municipal road network, dividing responsibility between two levels of local government. The agreement allows unified treatment of a problem that on the ground is not compartmentalized. As for causes, the mayor noted that this year southern winds reached 10 to 11 Beaufort scale, placing strain on the southern side of the island, where both areas are located. Kionia and Agios Fokas are coastal areas with significant activity in summer months, so road condition there affects both permanent residents and access to businesses and beaches.

The next step belongs to the South Aegean Regional Authority, which will proceed with the tender and conduct of the investigation; its findings will inform the design of works to be covered by the already-approved 1.2 million euro. No timeline for completion of the studies or date for commencement of repairs has been announced. The mayor also noted that there are other points on the island’s road network for which the Municipality wishes to follow a similar process, suggesting the matter is not exhausted in these two areas. The move fits into a broader infrastructure restoration effort on the islands, as shown by 9.77 million euro in funding for repairs in four Cyclades municipalities. It is noted that the above details come from a single source and are attributed to the mayor’s statements.