Successive accidents on the Egnatia Motorway raised in Parliament: Zeybek calls for safety measures
Following a series of fatal traffic accidents on the Egnatia Motorway, İskeçe MP Hüseyin Zeybek (New Left Party) has submitted a written parliamentary question to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, urging immediate safety measures, particularly around the Iasmos (Yassıköy) tolls.
Recently, a tragic accident occurred on the section between İskeçe and Gümülcine, when a truck rammed into vehicles forced to stop in heavy traffic. The crash left three people dead and two seriously injured. Zeybek attributed the accident to serious structural shortcomings on the motorway and the absence of adequate safety precautions.
“Inadequate Infrastructure at Iasmos Tolls Creates Major Risk”
In his submission, Zeybek stressed that the Iasmos toll station has only three lanes, with one reserved exclusively for automatic payment. Despite increasing traffic volumes in the region, no improvements have been made to the toll infrastructure, which, he argued, contributes directly to accidents.
He noted that during the summer months, traffic jams involving cars and trucks stretch for kilometers. Drivers often encounter sudden standstills, making speed limit signs ineffective and resulting in severe collisions.
“No Road Service Facility, Poor Maintenance”
The MP also underlined that there is still no Motorway Service Area (ΣΕΑ) along the Egnatia’s Eastern Macedonia and Thrace section. Road maintenance in the wind-prone İskeçe–Gümülcine stretch was described as inadequate, with the asphalt in poor condition.
Zeybek’s Three Questions to the Minister
Hüseyin Zeybek posed the following questions to the Minister of Transport:
- What urgent measures will be taken at toll stations to prevent further fatal accidents?
- What steps are planned to address infrastructure deficiencies along the Egnatia Motorway and provide modern road services from Thessaloniki to the border?
- Until the risks caused by long traffic queues at the Iasmos and other tolls are resolved, is the government considering suspending or removing these toll stations?
Zeybek emphasized that, for both local residents and international transport, urgent improvements on the Egnatia Motorway are essential to safeguard lives.
