A large transportation hub is being created in the area that will serve thousands of passengers
Images from the future in Thessaloniki, and specifically from the state-of-the-art metro station “New Switzerland”, where a large transportation hub will be created, serving thousands of passengers.
Simultaneously with the operation of the main line of the Thessaloniki Metro in November this year, the Transfer Station will be completed in the area of the New Switzerland station, the supplementary contract for which, amounting to 10.5 million euros, was signed today in the presence of the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Staikouras and the Deputy Minister responsible for Infrastructure issues, Nikos Tahiaou.
The implementation of the project has been undertaken by the joint venture AKTOR-WEBUILD-HITACHI and as agreed by all the participants at today’s supplementary contract signing event, the project will change the face of the New Switzerland area with the simultaneous opening and reconstruction of Michail Psellou Street.
The supplementary contract for the completion of the project of the “New Switzerland” Station of the Thessaloniki Metro, as pointed out by Mr. Staikouras, has already been passed by the Court of Auditors and its financing concerns national and European resources, specifically the European structural and investment funds and the NSRF 2014-2020. “This demonstrates the value of European funds for the implementation of important projects that help and strengthen the daily life of the citizen”, pointed out the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport.
Excluding the contribution of the Region of Central Macedonia and the Municipality of Thessaloniki and the excellent cooperation that has developed over the past period between all stakeholders of the Project called Metro always for the benefit of society, “after many years of waiting, delays and suffering of citizens, we are almost five months from the day the city will acquire a metro, perhaps the most modern in Europe, since it has the most innovative systems and the most demanding technical specifications for quality, functionality and safety. The main metro line with 13 stations will be delivered in November and it is a priority to have full accessibility for pedestrians and vehicles”.
Among other things, Mr. Staikouras assured that “at the core of the strategic targeting of the political leadership of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport is the completion of ongoing projects, the launch of new interventions, the strengthening of the security of green infrastructure and transport and the stimulation of the reliability of political system in terms of the timely implementation and necessary financing of the projects”.
The New Switzerland Station is called upon to support all transfers that can be made from Pylaia, Kalamaria and those arriving from Halkidiki and Thermi, as pointed out at the beginning of its installation by the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Nikos Tachiaos, noting that “the necessary expropriations have been made that occupy all the properties that step on Psellou Street and 24.5 million euros were given to the Municipality of Thessaloniki for the opening of the street”.
Among other things, he spoke about the “bet” that remains to be won and concerns Pontou Street in Kalamaria, where, as he said, there are three metro stations that are semi-functional at the moment, in the sense of access. “We will start discussions with the municipality of Kalamaria about the expropriations, in order to improve the conditions in the area and also to advance the construction of Pontou Street”, he stressed.
The opening of Michail Psellou street, which has now become a success, was a difficult bet for the political leadership, said the president and managing director of the consortium, Alexandros Exarchou, adding that today is the last procedural act before the start of operation of the Thessaloniki metro.
“Today we are signing the creation of a large Transportation Hub that will serve thousands of passengers, who will jointly use the metro, buses, trains and taxis”, stressed the CEO of Helliniko Metro, Nikos Kouretas and noting that “we went through many stages to get here today”, he pointed out that “this project is an innovative example of the cooperation of four entities, namely the Region of Central Macedonia, the Municipality of Thessaloniki, Helliniko Metro and the Organization of the Transport Project of Thessaloniki. The issue is not how well one service works, but how well they all work together,” he stressed.
“The opening of Psellos together with the regeneration is now a reality that came from the excellent cooperation between the government, the Region and the municipalities”, said the mayor of Thessaloniki Stelios Angeloudis and acknowledging the progress that has been made, he emphasized the traffic problem and pointed out that “the time has come for the citizens’ justified suspicion to be succeeded by positive intervention”.
The Deputy Regional Governor for Infrastructure and Networks of Central Macedonia, Paris Billias, among other things in his position, requested that the metro extensions be accelerated, “so that in 2030 we have more than this Kalamaria which is expected in the next eight months from the day of delivery of the basic line in November this year ” and thanked the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, saying that he has become a Thessalonian in part, since if not every week, at least every 15th day he goes to Thessaloniki to deal with and solve problems.
The projects in the area of New Switzerland
The works that will be carried out in the area of the New Switzerland station will completely change its appearance, which will turn it into an important regional transport hub. The tasks include the following:
- the opening of the transverse artery of Michael Psellos between the junctions with the E.O. Thessaloniki – N. Moudanion and Papanastasiou Street – Allatini
- the remodeling of the main level junctions connecting Michail Psellou with E.O. Thessaloniki – N. Moudanion and with Papanastasiou Street
- Allatin, which includes the remodeling of the connection branches of the uneven node of the E.O. Thessaloniki – N. Moudanion with the level junction of Michail Psellou Street with E.O. Thessaloniki – N. Moudanion
- the construction of a modern Transfer Station (S.M.) for city buses, taxis and private transport, as well as the construction of a ground floor building (in the wider area of the S.M., area of approximately 90 sq.m.) intended for the mandatory rest for city bus drivers during working hours, and construction of IT facilities. In addition, there will be areas for buses, KTEL and taxis, while there will also be road construction, drainage, electricity, water supply, planting, etc.
It is noted that the Thessaloniki Transport Project Organization (OSETH), within the framework of its responsibilities, undertook and fully completed the studies of a modern new Urban Transport Transfer Station above the “New Switzerland” Station of the Thessaloniki Metro, as well as the overall organization of parking spaces for buses and other means.
At the same time, with the agreement of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the Region of Central Macedonia and the Municipality of Thessaloniki, OSETH undertook and completed the preparation of the necessary studies for the opening of Mich Street. Psellou along with the design of the required junctions on either side of it, for its functional connection with the existing road network. The above was done through a Programming Agreement between the Municipality of Thessaloniki, OSETH SA and the Region of Central Macedonia and another Programming Agreement between OSETH SA and ELLINIKO METRO SA.. The total cost of the studies (amounting to 255,355 Euro. plus VAT) was undertaken by OSETH with own resources.
Source: Skai
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