The implementation of immediate road safety projects on the north road of Crete, starting with interventions in the Kissamos Departments of Chania and Linopemomama of Heraklion, has begun today, as announced in Chania, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Dimas Dimas Dimas Infrastructure Secretary Dimitris Anagnopoulos.

THE Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Dimas He said that road safety measures began to be implemented today in two sections, namely “from Kolymbari to Chania and from Linopema to the Landfill of Heraklion. These measures are corresponding to road safety measures, which we have successfully applied to Patras – Pyrgos. We had a dramatic decrease in fatal traffic accidents and serious injuries. The state’s concern is to reduce traffic accidents in BOAK, so we have seven important interventions by the end of the year. “

Introducing the timetable of interventions, he said that these were road safety interventions in Kolymbari-Chania and Heraklion-Linos-Linoperama, while in 2025 there are also five interventions at the points on BOAK, Chania-Georgioli, Petra-Petre-Petra-Petra-Kissipou

The Minister explained that the target ‘It cannot be the elimination of any traffic accident, but to significantly reduce the risk and improve drivers’ daily life. We want drivers to feel safe, to be able to go legally and safely … So it needs to work with all local agencies and authorities. BOAK is already being implemented and the aim of the state is to complete it from Kissamos to Sitia, as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has stated.“

Based on the elements of the presentation, there are in progress:

  • The public work from Agios Nikolaos to Neapoli.
  • The Public and Private Partnership (PPP) from Neapoli to Hersonissos.
  • The concession contract for the Chania-Heraklion Department, signed in May and the option for the Chania-Kissamos Department will be activated within the year.
  • The full funding of studies for the Pachia Ammos-Sitia Department has been announced, with the aim of maturing this project.

As the Deputy Minister of Transport Konstantinos Kyranakis, “Traffic is the first cause of death for young people under the age of 29 in our country. In the face of this national wound, we do not choose silence. We choose the responsibility. Since 2019, the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis has prioritized road safety. The new Road Traffic Code is a product of wide parliamentary consensus and includes more stringent recurrence arrangements, with the sole aim of rescuing human lives. The bet now is the application: with targeted policing, with the active involvement of municipalities and regions, with interventions in our daily streets – from marking to Samarakia. We create an alliance of responsibility to achieve something it deserves: to say at the end of this year that something has finally changed in Greece. “

THE Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Nikos Tahaioshe spoke of implementing a very large project in Crete, which is proceeding through three different, undergoing contracts. “For us, the engineers, the road is first and foremost a functional project that contributes to saving energy and time. For those who think in financial terms, it is also an opportunity to make the tourist product more attractive. But above all, it is a matter of road safety because it is about human lives. As the projects are performed, for the new BOAK we need to ensure that those moving to the old BOAK, along with the construction sites and traffic arrangements, will do so with the maximum safety. So what you see today is a sub -project of the big BOAK. “

Concerning issues related to the consultation and agreement with local government and society, Mr Tahaios pointed out that “cooperation is for us. There may be disagreements, different approaches, we can see interests towards the execution of this great work, but what matters is that at some point we have to end up and agree. Because in Crete today, with the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, we see the biggest projects ever done on the island, such as the new airport in Kasteli, the BOAK conventions, as well as smaller projects, which also have a significant local footprint. The keyword today is road safety. And the second keyword is the consensus. “

The informative event was also spoken by Crete Regional Governor Stavros Arnaoutakis, confirming that only through cooperation and co -operation “we will be able to strengthen the national alliance to reduce traffic accidents and closing a list that continues to be a list of required. These are vital projects, as every measure of the upgraded road network is transformed into a lifeline for drivers and especially for young people. The wide technical program implemented to upgrade road safety to hundreds of roads on the road network, its budget, is approaching a total of 107 million euros. “

THE Secretary General of Infrastructure Dimitris Anagnopoulospresented in detail the technical data of the interventions and stressed:

“The Ministry of Education, with the experience of the prior successful implementation of road safety measures on the Patras -Pyrgos Motorway, proceeds with the immediate implementation of corresponding measures in the Kissamos – Linopemama Department of Heraklion, which will be implemented in part in the 7 distinctive departments. We expect similar positive results from these measures, as in Patras-Pyrgos“

According to information presented by the Secretary -General, BOAK, with a total length of 300 km, is one of the most dangerous roads in the country. In particular, the section from Kissamos Chania to Heraklion (Linopemama), 145 km long, has the highest danger.

In the framework of the “BOAK Road Safety Study” by OAS from OAS SA, 13 areas of increased danger were identified along the axis, of which 11 are in the section.

In the last three years (2022-24), 26 serious traffic accidents occurred with 20 human casualties and 18 serious injuries.

Therefore, there is an immediate need to take measures to drastically reduce serious traffic accidents until the construction of the new motorway is completed, while maintaining the level of functionality of the existing road. The content of the interventions is based on the previous positive international and domestic experience, based on the results of both the implementation of similar measures in countries such as Germany and Sweden and in Greece, on the Patras – Pyrgos road, a similar danger road.

Specifically, following the relevant interventions implemented in December 2023 on the existing Patras Highway (Kato Achaia)-Pyrgos (68 km), an annual decrease in deaths was recorded by about 90% and no frontal conflict in 2024. full operation).

It is noted that the implementation of the measures was accompanied by a strict policing. According to the above experience and aiming to strengthen the level of road safety in BOAK, the following measures are taken: “Configuration of three” B2+1 “cross section with a 1 – 2.5 km long strip, alternating in the two traffic directions, where the width is 11.00. vegetation and cleaning of ditches and backs to ensure visibility.

Provision of emergency recesses, where possible, in the sections of a lane.

Reformation of the (56) existing nodes, ABS and entrance-exits.

The formation of two new nodes (Geropotamos & Landfill of Heraklion), for which the relevant need for the Region and the local agencies have been highlighted.

Lighting and light signage where required.

Along the length of the section where the road safety measures are applied there will be pillars in the middle of the road. Implementation of the measures seeks to reduce deaths and serious injuries, maintain road functionality, satisfactory traffic flow in the motorway construction phase when working-class markings are applied, safe crossing at nodes and entrances. As noted, a prerequisite for the success of the project, which aims to protect human life, is to comply with road users with the rules of the Road Traffic Code.