The projects all over Greece are now “running” at increased speeds. Projects that will change the infrastructure map of our country as well as the way citizens move, while giving a huge boost to the local and national economy.

These are breath-taking projects that, in addition to facilitating transport access, will facilitate freight transport, strengthen local communities and contribute to the country’s tourism development.

Major projects that are currently underway by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, outside of Attica, concern:

– Completion of E65 from Lamia to Egnatia road and Western Macedonia,

– Northern Road Axis of Crete,

-Patra – Pyrgos

-Flyover, regional of Thessaloniki and

– New Heraklion International Airport, Kasteli

George Karagiannis: In the last 4 years, Greece has turned into a construction site

“Over the last 4 years, Greece has turned into a construction site as the largest infrastructure upgrade program is underway. It is typical that from July 2019 until today we have auctioned projects worth 14 billion euros, while projects worth almost 5.5 billion euros have been signed and are in the construction phase,” Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Giorgos Karagiannis told APE-MPE .

Our planning at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, added the deputy minister, was developed in such a way as to concern the whole country, the needs of each region separately and at the same time serve the central goal of national recovery.

Indicatively, as he mentioned in APE-MPE, among the biggest projects currently being built – outside of Attica – in Greece are the three highways:

  1. E65 which is the “backbone” of the country’s road network,
  2. BOAK, the last major highway to be built and
  3. “Patra – Pyrgos”, a project that went through 40 waves and would not have been implemented without political will, a lot of work and the intervention of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis himself.

We also have a regional road axis, the Flyover in Thessaloniki, an absolutely necessary and useful project that will also stand out for its pioneering nature.

In Crete, apart from BOAK, we have in full development the construction project for the New Heraklion International Airport in Kasteli, which will be a real transport hub and the first “green” airport in Greece, upgrading the island’s strategic role.

“Infrastructure projects undoubtedly have a significant developmental footprint at local, regional and national levels as they mobilize additional investment and create new jobs. Mainly they upgrade the everyday life of the citizens by ensuring a better quality of life” stressed Deputy Minister Giorgos Karagiannis.

The 4+1 major infrastructure projects in Greece (outside Attica)

Northern Road Axis of Crete (BOAK)

Total project budget in the Kissamos – Chania – Heraklion – Neapoli – Agios Nikolaos section: 2.5 billion euros. In 2022 the first construction sites were installed (public project Neapolis – Agios Nikolaos) and in 2024 all fronts will have opened.

* The PPP Hersonissos – Neapoli and the public project Neapoli – Agios Nikolaos were contracted.

* On May 8, the bids for the large project Chania – Heraklion are also expected to be submitted.

* The studies for the Kissamos – Chania option are progressing and the Environmental Impact Study will be submitted within the year.

* The studies for Souda – Airport are progressing and the positive opinion of GEN is expected to finalize the layout of the road that will run marginally within the area of ​​the Souda Naval Station.

Eastern Inner Regional of Thessaloniki (flyover)

* The contract for the major project for Thessaloniki was signed

* The geotechnical investigations have already started, while the final studies are already being prepared

* The first works will start in early autumn

This pioneering project covers 13 kilometers, with 9 uneven junctions, 4 kilometers of aerial road i.e. continuous “Flyover” bridge, 10 new bridges.

It is a “road above the road”, the largest aerial road in Greece, which with its construction will relieve the Eastern Ring Road in three ways:

* It will increase traffic capacity

* It will dramatically improve road safety

* It will reduce the environmental footprint, with fewer emitted pollutants.

It is a project that can really change everyday life in the city, serving 10,000 vehicles per hour in each direction. Drivers will now move in more stable times and with economy.

Central Greece Motorway (E65)

The entire Central Greece Motorway E65 is approximately 181 km long and includes, as defined in the project’s Concession Agreement, the following sections:

* PATHE Halfway Section – A/C Xyniada (ext. 0+000 – 32+270) South Section A’.

* Xyniada A/C Department – Trikala A/C Department (ext. 32+270 – 110+940) Middle Department.

* Trikala A/C Section – Grevena A/C Section and Grevena A/C Section – Egnatia A/C Section (ext. 110+940 – 181+410) Northern Section B’.

The Central Greece Motorway (E65) (Lamia – Karditsa – Trikala – Kalambaka – Egnatia Odos) is part of the TransEuropean Network and forms the backbone of the transport infrastructure of Central Greece. It is expected that it will contribute drastically to the safety of road travel and transport, reduce accidents, while achieving faster and more economical travel.

The construction of the E65 Motorway will also help to remove the transport isolation of Central Greece and will upgrade the connection of Western Macedonia and Epirus, at the same time serving the accessibility to the outside, thus giving the possibility of strengthening regional development, tourism and freight. traffic in an area with particular potential for further economic development, while contributing to the reduction of the unemployment rate and the increase of per capita income.

The international role of the project is also important because it is connected via Egnatia Odos and its vertical axes with the outside world.

* The Northern Section of Trikala – Egnatia has secured funding from the Recovery Fund.

* At the beginning of 2024, the entire Southern Section, PATHE – Xyniada, which has exceeded 90%, will be completed.

Patras – Pyrgos highway

The financial contribution from the Greek State is 216 million euros, while the construction cost amounts to 295 million euros.

The project concerns the Patras-Pyrgos road connection of the Concession Agreement for the Study, Construction, Financing, Operation, Maintenance and Exploitation of the Elefsina – Corinth – Patras – Pyrgos – Tsakona Motorway, which will be implemented with a new alignment, east of the existing E. THE. Patras-Pyrgos.

The length of the artery is 74.5 km and the lateral and vertical network about 124 km. Specifically length: lateral road network 109 km, vertical road network 16 km and connecting roads 483 m.

The project was received fragmented, particularly damaged, but with particular importance for the region and its inhabitants. Work has now started from March 2022, with a completion schedule for the Kato Achaia – Pyrgos section in March 2025 and the Myndilogi – Kato Achaia section three months later.

It is noted that the hybrid proportional toll charging system for users of the Elefsina – Corinth – Patras highway will also be installed on the new Patra – Pyrgos highway.

New International Airport of Heraklion Crete in Kasteli

* The increase in the size of the country’s new state-of-the-art international airport of more than 30% was ensured, so that it could effectively respond to the estimated passenger traffic that Crete will be called upon to welcome in the coming decades.

* The new airport will now count 92,000 square meters, from 68,000 square meters that was the original design.

* The project execution progress today has exceeded 22%.

The new airport in Kastelli will contribute to the further development of all activities in Crete and to the upgrading of its geopolitical position.

In its full development the project will create 2,000 jobs and multiple permanent jobs during the period of operation and the period when the new commercial infrastructure and uses are developed.

It is estimated that Kastelli Airport will create approximately 7,500 direct jobs.