The contract was signed in Heraklion, in the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, for the construction of the Hersonissos – Neapolis section of the Northern Road Axis of Crete, which will be built by the TERNA – INTRAKAT – AKTOR scheme, with a partnership between the Public and Private Sectors.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, starting his speech at the Cultural Conference Center of Heraklion where the contract was signed, called today “another important day” for Crete, clarifying that the signing concerns “one of the three major projects that make up the initiative taken by our government, for Crete to finally get the northern road axis it deserves».

“Do you remember when we made the relevant presentation in Chania, we talked in detail then about the great outstanding issues that we had inherited from the past. For how those who spoke about BOAK on behalf of the previous Government essentially – and I will say it simply as I feel it – were making fun of our fellow citizens the Cretans, as there was neither study maturity, nor funding, nor even a unified framework for us to speak for a single highway, which will extend from one end of Crete to the othersaid Mr. Mitsotakis.

This is the second of three sections of BOAK which is contracted, 22.4 km long.

During his speech, Mr. Mitsotakis referred to the support for Crete in the last four years, but also the development plan that will change the island until 2030, saying that “we will leave all this to the judgment of our fellow citizens, as we have elections in four weeks from now and we always want to be judged on our work,” adding that “what we are asking from our fellow citizens, and I personally from my fellow citizens, is to give us the opportunity, to implement this plan and to put it into practice. We have already laid the foundations, we have done a lot of work, more remains, but I am sure that here in Crete our fellow citizens will give us this opportunity and will re-elect the New Democracy in the governance of the place, so that we can continue and complete the project and at some point in the next years BOAK will be handed over to the Cretans as well as to the visitors , as the most modern highway to be built in Europe, the last big pending road project in our country».

In conclusion, Mr. Mitsotakis said that for him it is also his legacy in Crete and how “I am sure that I will be given the opportunity to complete this project”.

“The Greek state, despite the significant external crises, but also the complexity of the project and of BOAK as a wholemanaged not only to plan but also to launch the implementation of this project” noted the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, responsible for Infrastructure matters Giorgos Karagiannis, adding that “the current government, the Greek Prime Minister, the political leadership of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport as a whole during our term, we kept the pre-election commitment for Crete to get the highway it deserves”.

Present at the signing of the contract was the Regional Governor of Crete, Stavros Arnautakis, who referred to the close and effective cooperation, as he said, with the ministry, adding that the Region will continue to contribute in the best possible way to the implementation of the project.

Also present were the Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy Yannis Plakiotakis, the Deputy Minister of Sports Lefteris Avgenakis, the MP of the National Democratic Party Maximos Senetakis, the Archbishop of Crete Evgenios, mayors of municipalities of the Regional Unit of Heraklion and local bodies.