MOMA_LEMNOS PROJECT

3rd M.O.M.A.THE LEMNOS PROJECT

This document is dedicated to the memory of thosesoldiers and civilians who worked with M.O.M.A. for thereconstruction of Greece after the World War II.

The closing of M.O.M.A., the demolishing of theworkshops, the sold-out of heavy machinery left intact the spirit thatM.O.M.A. left behind and the gap in contribution of Public toindividuals.

Ioannis Emmanouilidis : 3rd MOMA : THE LEMNOS PROJECT

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3rd MOMA : THE LEMNOS PROJECT

I first joint the 3rd M.O.M.A. (Mixed Group of Machinery for Reconstruction) soon afterthe termination of a six months contract which I had with the Administration of TechnicalServices of the Thessaloniki΄s Municipality (Greece). A sort but successful interview granted methe right of been a member of the staff of the legendary M.O.M.A. which helped for thereconstruction of ruined Greece after World War II.

From all the units which M.O.M.A. had all around Greece, the 3rd M.O.M.A. was thebiggest, having more than ten construction sites, workshops, in the region on Western Greece andon some Aegean islands close to the borders.

For those who don't know, M.O.M.A. was an organization with both civilian and armypersonnel working jointly and using heavy machinery for the construction of public and army'sprojects, at remote locations difficult to reach. In certain emergency situations such asearthquakes, floods, wild fires, M.O.M.A. was a ready force to help, by opening emergencyroutes, removing debris etc.

So, as an engineer, I was assigned the role of Head (Director) of the local group of the 3rd

M.O.M.A. on the remote island of Lemnos, an island big enough to have local Civilian Authority,(Governor Mr Sfunduris), and Army Command.

The Head of local group of a M.O.M.A. was in charge of civilian and military personnel,responsible for the maintenance of heavy machinery and equipment, for the payment of the staffand local providers (spare parts, tires etc) and subcontractors, responsible for the movements ofmachinery and the progress of works and finally as an engineer he was the Resident Engineer, theSafety and Site Manager collaborating with local authorities, technical services, municipalitiesand army's chiefs. Once every month the Head should conduct a detailed report addressing theprogress and problems of the construction to the Command of 3rd MOMA at the central camp atThessaloniki. This role was certainly a challenge for a young engineer, since, concerning publicrelationships a suitable person should have experience and manners.

The local M.O.M.A. group of Lemnos had a personnel of 35 machinery operators, masonsand master workers, miners, mechanics, office clerks and “ENPI”s (teenagers, army volunteers,trained as machinery operators) under the command of Head.

The fleet of heavy machinery was : three (3) “KOMATSU” D6 crawler Bulldozers, two (2)graders, one (1) “KOMATSU” Frond Shovel Excavator, two (2) “INTERNATIONAL” WheelLoaders, eight (8) “VOLVO” 8-10m3 trucks (15tns), two (2) “DYNAPAC” Single drumVibratory Rollers, one (1) movable Crane, one (1) “BEDFORD” Watertank, one (1) fieldlaboratory and two (2) 1tn small vehicles. Two subcontractors working independently had theresponsibility of constructing big structures (Mr. Avgeris) and transporting materials (Mr.Gramatikopolos).

Apart of army's projects, the assignment of M.O.M.A. group in Lemnos island, was toconstruct the airport of the island and three axes roads for the economic and social development ofthe inhabitant population.

These road axes (approximately 15,0km each) were:1) Road axis Kalithea-Koutalis-Kontias-Thanos-Mirina2) Road axis Mirina-Kaspakas-Sardes-Dafni-Katalako-Atsiki3) Road axis Romanou-Repanidi-Kontopouli-Panagia-Plaka.The construction theater included two (2) open borrow-pits (one at Thanos village and one

at Kaspakas village). Actually these were “open front” mines, where aggregates were produced by


excavating hard igneous, magmatic, rock (red and green Andesite) with explosives, mainlyANFO. This perhaps was the most critical issue since in the island of Lemnos there is not anycalcite layer or deposits of other suitable for road aggregates material, such as Neogene (geologicperiod) deposits. It was extremely difficult and dangerous to transport huge amounts of merchantexplosives from motherland to the island on a common passenger ship-liner, thus a Navy's ship oroccasionally a special cargo ship should be used under army's permission and escort.

In general the construction works were:

· earthworks (general excavations for new road alignments and excavations for thewidening of existing roads, cuts and fills for the embankments)

· construction of small structures (culverts and bridges with span < 10,0m wide)

· construction of road drainage ditches (side, eyebrow and toe channels)A part of the construction of aggregate sub-base course layer and of aggregate base course

layer and totally the asphalt pavement works were not included in this part of the project. For thiskind of works it was necessary to have other type of heavy machinery and additionally to importsuitable aggregate material transported from the motherland.

The road cuts were excavated also on hard igneous rock. Thus our miners were drillingvertical and horizontal boreholes (up to 4m long) with a movable “ATLAS COPCO” pneumaticdriller. The explosives unit (3 miners) was expert on this job and the safety measures, comingdirectly from army's orders, were strong and no accident ever happened. A special report to thelocal Police Station, restraining traffic of vehicles and pedestrians, and additional traffic signs atdistant were measures for public safety.

A very important concern was the preservation of groundwater regime on every explosion.Since Lemnos is a dry of water island, no surface water or springs is present and the only sourceof fresh water supply is deep wells. The shock of an explosion could lower more the groundwatertable causing problems. This happened one time close to Thanos village but fortunately it lastedonly for six hours.

Fills passing on estuaries land, close to the sea was a problem, which was solved raisingthe low embankments up to 2,0m high and constructing in slow working mode (duration of worksover six months) leaving thus time for consolidation. The rising of groundwater through theembankments was stopped by using coarse (rather gross) aggregates in locations where clay-silt,(a product of igneous rock weathering), was met. This was the main problem at the south ofLemnos during construction of the 1st axis at the region of Kontias-Thanos villages.

The construction of small structures was also an issue of river and structural engineering.First it was necessary to inspect existing structures to ensure their condition and safety underloads. The remaining small torrents and their V-shaped channels were bridged by reinforcedconcrete plate covered structures. This type of structure has gravity abutments at both sides of thebedrock channel founded on healthy ground. The abutments are also retaining walls supportingboth the earth fill behind and the carriageway (deck) of the bridge on top. This type of structure isideal for the mountain torrents since it leaves the channel wide open for the flow.

Expropriation of land was an issue of compromising with land stakeholders. Since a roadwas about to be constructed on remote locations, unwillingness was easily replaced by desire forcommunication and development.

These were problems to confront in both remote locations and populated areas duringwinter and tourist season. M.O.M.A. had the right staff, hard working well trained, to finish theproject as scheduled in 10 months.

After 30 years, perhaps memories left behind of some incidents rare but pleasant. Now


tourists and inhabitants enjoy the 45,0 kilometers “basic road” network of minimum 7,0 m wide,and safe, asphalt roads of the island Lemnos and in many cases, the locals advertise Lemnos totourists as an island with perfect roads.

A Google snapshot : The location of Kaspacas borrow-pit

A Google snapshot : The location of Thanos borrow-pit


PICTURES FROM THE WORKS 1.

Borrow-pit of Kaspakas : Production and loading of aggregate material for the fills .



Explosion management: Preparation of boreholes and after detonation inspection of site



Inspection of transportation Safety: Existing bridges inspection.



Construction of small structures: Foundation works and raising the abutments.



Inspection of road drainage works: Inspecting the performance of toe channels and road sideditches during winter.



Training of “ENPI”: The group of volunteering to army teenagers who work for M.O.M.A. andtheir sergeant Tsapnidis.

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MOMA_LEMNOS PROJECT