Bizarre "bridges" of motorway in Greece

[jervi]

I'm heading off to Kalamata soon, so I thought I'd check out the roads as you do on Google Earth, and I found this oddity.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@37.05597 ... ?entry=ttu

Two houses which weren't demolished for the construction of the motorway, but it was decided to have a wide bridge adjacent to their houses across one of the carriageways.
By the looks of it, the buildings are no less than 5m clear from the retaining wall, so this really makes no sense to me.

Surely the cost of those bridges (or piers? What does one call a bridge that doesn't bridge) is far most expensive and another maintenance burden than just purchasing them, like with other during the construction of this route (its construction is on Google Earth).

If you like roads, I guess its a good place to live, otherwise what was the point?
Anything like this exists anywhere else?

[freebrickproductions]

I'm guessing the government was only able to purchase the necessary ROW (or at least get an easement) for the highway behind the houses if they did that to let the owners keep something of a backyard for their houses.

[Bryn666]

Yes, this has political dealings written all over it, no serious highway engineer would do this unless directly instructed to.

[Helvellyn]

There's a rather bizarre-looking junction a little way to the east too, with quite a lot covered for no obvious reason I can see, not even someone's back garden.

[MotorwayGuy]

The geometry of some of the slip roads is bizarre as well considering this appears to be a recently built road.

[zapalniczka]

this older picture is odd. maybe some kind of foundation support?

https://goo.gl/maps/8GG6SJojpNaq3aPr8

[Norfolktolancashire]

They would be interesting properties for "Homes in the Sun" programmes!

What would you do with that concrete patch, car parking?

[Owain]

They would be interesting properties for "Homes in the Sun" programmes!

What would you do with that concrete patch, car parking?

To be fair, the people who go on those programmes would probably describe the properties as "beautiful" so long as they can see a centimetre of sea through a gap somewhere in the concrete.

[Chris5156]

To be fair, the people who go on those programmes would probably describe the properties as "beautiful" so long as they can see a centimetre of sea through a gap somewhere in the concrete.

To an estate agent, all properties are "stunning".

[cb a1]

Is it technically a bridge or a tunnel?

The height sign on the bridge / tunnel did amuse me. That could be interpreted as a very low bridge

[Owain]

To be fair, the people who go on those programmes would probably describe the properties as "beautiful" so long as they can see a centimetre of sea through a gap somewhere in the concrete.

To an estate agent, all properties are "stunning".

The one that gets me is "This property benefits from on-street parking".

Translation: "You need to buy a permit from the council, and fight with your neighbours to get a space".

[Helvellyn]

They would be interesting properties for "Homes in the Sun" programmes!

What would you do with that concrete patch, car parking?

To be fair, the people who go on those programmes would probably describe the properties as "beautiful" so long as they can see a centimetre of sea through a gap somewhere in the concrete.

"You can see the sea, it's between the land and the sky..."

[FosseWay]

They would be interesting properties for "Homes in the Sun" programmes!

What would you do with that concrete patch, car parking?

To be fair, the people who go on those programmes would probably describe the properties as "beautiful" so long as they can see a centimetre of sea through a gap somewhere in the concrete.

"You can see the sea, it's between the land and the sky..."

Round me, a sea view adds a million or so to the price of a house. I've never really understood this; I live about 800 metres from the sea. If I want to look at it, I can walk 10 minutes down the road and do just that for free. Or I can cycle to work and "benefit from" a free shower of salt water every time the wind goes above about force 8!

[Bryn666]

To be fair, the people who go on those programmes would probably describe the properties as "beautiful" so long as they can see a centimetre of sea through a gap somewhere in the concrete.

To an estate agent, all properties are "stunning".

See also how every development is "exciting". I can't really get excited about a Taco Bell in a car park, but apparently the planning application can.