Epirus: Ionia Motorway extension project to Albanian borders matures

Infrastructure Minister, Mr. Christos Spirtzis, connected the construction of Ioannina – Kakavia motorway section, with the plan for the  extensions of the country’s existing network, in his recent speech at the 3rd annual “Thessaloniki Summit”.

This can be seen, as an additional confirmation of the Ministry’s intentions to bring to light a new generation of major road projects that could be materialized through concession contracts. Regarding Ioannina – Kakavia, which is considered to be the natural extension of Ionian Motorway, reaching the border crossing to Kakavia (Albania), it is probably the most strategic project, from this emerging generation (including new road sections such as Pyrgos – Kalo Nero – Tsakona, the connection of Ionian Motorway to Agrinio and Preveza, the axis Kalamata – Pylos – Rizomilos, etc.) as it will connect the country to Albania via a covered motorway.

Admittedly, Ioannina – Kakavia section has gone through many… turbulences but has not yet come to a happy ending, finding its way to materialization. Suffice it to recall that it had been originally selected as one of the major infrastructure projects of NSRF 2014 – 2020 but was eventually withdrawn. Afterwards discussions were made for its financing through European Investment Bank.

The great advantage of Ioannina – Kakavia is that, as a whole, Ionia Motorway from Kakavia to Igoumenitsa, is the southern tip of the so-called Mediterranean Corridor running accross Croatia (Rijeka – Ploce), Montenergo (Bar), Albania (Tirana – Durres – Lezhe) and finally Greece (Borders – Igoumenitsa).

In terms of project studies, the section from Pedini (in the area close to Epirus region capital, Ioannina) to Karyes (about 34 km long), is considered to be quite “mature” in terms of project studies, with an estimated cost of 340m euros. It is noted that the new section’s total length (i.e. Ioannina – Kakavia) is 64 km long.

Nikos Karagiannis-ypodomes.com