MP Zeybek submits parliamentary inquiry over dangerous road project in İskeçe
İskeçe MP and Agriculture Spokesperson of the New Left Party, Hüseyin Zeybek, has submitted a parliamentary inquiry to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, raising concerns over the safety and incomplete status of the İskeçe–Şahin–Greece-Bulgaria border road project. The inquiry also highlights traffic safety risks in Elmalı village and delays in the repair of a bridge on the İskeçe – Yeniköy (Stavroupoli) road.
According to Zeybek, the 70th road project section connecting Demircik to the Greece-Bulgaria border was partially opened to traffic on 20 January 2026. The project, which was tendered in 2018 during the SYRIZA government with ESPA and INTERREG funding, has been opened before completion, creating serious traffic safety hazards.
The approximately nine-kilometer route connects to an existing narrow and outdated road in the Demircik – Elmalı – Şahin – İskeçe section. Zeybek noted insufficient road width, sharp turns, steep slopes, landslide-prone areas, and the presence of wild animals. Traffic signage and road markings are inadequate. With the border crossing now operational, the inclusion of trucks and buses poses a significant risk to Elmalı village residents.
Zeybek also pointed out that residents of Demircik have formally submitted requests to authorities for safety measures, including secure crossings for livestock, access to agricultural land, retaining walls, repair of damaged drinking water systems, and restoration of farmland affected during construction. These requests remain unaddressed, forcing residents to pursue legal action.
In addition, the MP highlighted that a bridge on the İskeçe – Yeniköy (Stavroupoli) road has remained unrepaired for four years, operating under alternating traffic and weight restrictions, with no clear repair schedule or secured funding.
Zeybek’s parliamentary inquiry asks the Ministry:
- Why was the Demircik – Greece-Bulgaria border road opened before establishing safe connections in the Demircik – Elmalı section?
- Is there an official decision allowing heavy vehicles to pass through the Elmalı village area, and what technical and traffic criteria support it?
- What is the current status of the Elmalı – Demircik road project regarding surveys, funding, and implementation schedule?
- What urgent measures will be taken to improve traffic safety in the hazardous sections, including signage and road markings?
- Why has the bridge on the 8th kilometer of the İskeçe – Yeniköy road remained unrepaired for four years, and when is its full repair planned?
- In the event of an accident due to insufficient road infrastructure or increased traffic in Demircik – Elmalı or Elmalı village, which authorities are responsible, and how is the chain of accountability (Ministry of Infrastructure, Egnatia Odos S.A., Regional Administration, Municipality) determined?
- What is the status of Demircik residents’ requests for crossings, agricultural access, retaining walls, water system repairs, and restoration of farmland, and what is the concrete timetable for their fulfillment?
Zeybek emphasized that the incomplete and unsafe state of the road threatens the safety of residents and travelers and undermines the economic and tourism potential of İskeçe’s mountainous and border regions.
