When the construction site of the FlyOver is completed, it will also be seen how the traffic on the ring road of Thessaloniki will be shaped in its final form, which will be determined at the end of April, estimated the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Nikos Tachiaos, speaking at the 18th Polyconference “Innovation & Development”, organized by ka-business.gr.

“What is being done now is the preliminary works and indeed the preliminary works were going – at least when I spoke and said this – much faster than we expected and I believe that by the end of April they will be completed and the construction site will take its final form , i.e. it will have been moved to the eastern part of the road towards the Sheikh Suu side”, said Mr. Tahiaos, explaining that this is very important for “the agency to come in to start building the project».

Regarding the traffic congestion due to the works for the FlyOver, he characteristically stated that “basically, when the construction site is completed, then we will see how the traffic in the regional area will have been shaped in its final form”, noting that the situation is gradually improving.

“Traffic conditions through the city itself have improved drastically for a very simple reason. Because right now the city is being policed ​​and what’s really been missing – because that’s what’s causing the charge – is illegal parking on the main thoroughfares that run through the city and allow south-north-northeast traffic, that is, on its side Halkidiki and Kalamaria towards PATHE. Little by little we see that things are improving, because the pattern of movement in the city is also changing. Everyone chooses the road that they think serves them best and this improves traffic conditions. Of course, this does not mean that there is no problem on the ring road”, pointed out the deputy minister, while answering a related question he stated that there is currently no planning for a ring road.

Mr. Tachiaos spoke of excellent cooperation with the region for the signaling, but also with the Municipality of Thessaloniki, both for the creation of regional parking lots, and for night collection only. “An amendment has been tabled – at least it has been signed by me – to grant the Municipality of Thessaloniki an extraordinary grant for the coming years, amounting to 13 million euros, to be able to cope with the increased labor costs due to the night collection. Measures have been taken to improve conditions“, he said.

“The concession of Egnatia Road is a very important achievement”

The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure also referred to the signing of the contract for the concession of Egnatia Road, between the Greek State and TAIPED, and on the one hand the company NEA EGNATIA ODOS SA. as Concessionaire and the original shareholders, GEK TERNA SA. and EGIS PROJECTS SA speaking of “a very important achievement for which we must thank the people who have worked continuously for many years”.

“Tunnels need to be certified, heavy maintenance needs to be done, ongoing maintenance needs to be done, parapets need to be built […] There is a SEA only in Platamonas and the others are off the road and […]these are issues that need investment. The private sector may invest mainly, or rather only the private sector. The Public Investment Program is not inexhaustible […] and also the European Union no longer finances projects that it has already financed, it does not finance their maintenance, but it also does not finance new road projects easily, unless they are projects related to road safety. Infrastructure now has a very small share in the NSRF.

Thus, the granting of the Egnatia Road is a very important act, a very important act that will allow us this last highway, which does not have the absolutely functional characteristics to acquire them, for everyone to be satisfied with this highway”, he said.

Regarding the next step in which the Ministry of Infrastructure is involved, he clarified that it concerns the delivery of Egnatia Road to the concessionaire. This, he added, will not happen overnight because a contract has been signed, but some outstanding issues will need to be resolved. He also estimated that the project will also bring new investments “for example, the vertical, the second branch will be built and the rest will be upgraded on the vertical axis between Greece and North Macedonia, in the Chalastra and Polykastro section».