The top-three new motorway projects in Greece

Three major national road projects are of high importance for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport for the next period. Patras-Pyrgos, BOAK and the northern part of E65 motorways are at the top of the list of road projects and it is estimated that in 2021 their implementation will start.

The three projects have a significant “past” with the maturation of their construction and apart from BOAK, the other two were sections that began construction in the distant 2008 but due to the crisis in 2013 followed a different fate. But where are they today?

Patras-Pyrgos Motorway

Patras-Pyrgos Motorway is the most advanced of the three projects. A few days ago the green light was given by DG REGIO, which means that now it has to go through DG COMP. The supportive studies for the documentation of the approval request have started at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transporation.

At the same time, the Ministry is in contact with the competent management of the Commission (DG REGIO) for the reaffirmation of the financing of the project and in fact as it had leaked through non papers, under more favorable time conditions after receiving the above approvals.

Then the project will be “accompanied” by the concession of Olympia Odos which will pay funds of about 80 million euros. The amended contract will be ratified in Parliament and then signed.

The goal is for the works to start in 2021 and be completed by 2024. The advantages of the project are the absence of great techniques that would require more time. This is a project of about 310 million euros, for the creation of a closed highway 75 km (almost exclusively in new alignment) with 2 lanes in each direction and a safety railing.

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Today we are at the level of studies. It is a colossal road project whose investment will exceed 1.5 billion euros. It will start from Chania and will end in Neapolis divided into 2 parts.

The studies according to statements that have been made recently will be completed in 2021. Towards the end of this year, the 2018 competition will be activated, which has remained – due to the lack of studies and environmental study – at the stage of expression of interest.

The project concerns the widening of the existing axis and its conversion into a closed highway with 2 lanes in each direction.

The Neapoli-Agios Nikolaos section also has significant chances for implementation, perhaps through the Recovery Fund, however this will become known in the coming days.

North section E65, Trikala-Egnatia

It is the deferred section of the E65 motorway that completes this new axis. It has a length of about 64km and a cost of 400 million euros.

In its preparation it has passed the relevant approvals of the Commission Directorates and is waiting for the final green light of Brussels. In 2021, it is estimated that the relevant procedures will be completed and the amended contract will be ratified by the Greek Parliament.

Then the projects are going to be signed and begin afterwards. The first estimate is that if the start of implementation occurs in 2021 then it could have been completed by 2024.

The northern part of the E65 is one of the projects proposed by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport for funding from the Recovery Fund, thus locking its implementation.

In addition to the above three projects, important road projects that we will see implemented in the coming years are the extensions of Attiki Odos, Amvrakia Odos, the bypass of Chalkida and the fly-over of Peripheral Thessaloniki, which are not of national level and concern more local transporation.