5 new big infrastructure projects in Greece set to commence in 2024

Five new big infrastructure projects are set to commence in the country in the near future, and the interesting aspect about them is the diversity they each possess. Significant projects are ready to move forward both geographically and in terms of usage.

ThessIntec, the expansion of Eleftherios Venizelos airport, the road project Ioannina-Kakavia, the Riviera Galleria in Elliniko, and the completion of the 6th pier at the port of Thessaloniki are the next projects where we will see bulldozers at work, as well as projects that will be the subject of “battles” for the major construction companies in the country.

The project that is starting immediately is ThessIntec in Perea, Thessaloniki. Over 100 million euros are expected to be invested there so that by 2027 Thessaloniki will have its own research hub, simultaneously attracting technology companies. Both EKETA, which will invest significantly in developing technology and research buildings, and the fund to which 40% of the area has been allocated for further technological activities, will play a significant role in ThessINTEC.

The first major expansion of Athens International Airport, “Eleftherios Venizelos,” is also a reality. Following the so-called “small” expansion of the previous decade, there comes an investment of around 650 million euros, promising to increase the airport’s capacity to serve up to 33 million passengers annually. Studies are well advanced, an architect is being sought for the expansion of both the central and satellite terminals, and if there are no delays, construction works are expected to commence within the year.

The goal of the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) is to commence commercial operation of the new facilities by 2028 and alleviate congestion at Athens International Airport, which is experiencing significant growth in passenger traffic. It’s a fact that this project will attract all major construction companies in the country due to the scale of the investment, and it will be of great interest to see who will manage to secure this very large contract. The implementing authority is the HCAA as the airport concession company.

Regarding the road project Ioannina-Kakavia, the competitive procedures had to be repeated twice in 2023 due to legal appeals. Now we are at an advanced stage, and the provisional contractor for the project is AVAX. If there are no further delays, the construction contract could be signed by the summer, and we could see the first work commencing in 2024.

The project, which involves upgrading the approximately 70-kilometer-long Ioannina-Kalpaki-Kakavia road, costs 310 million euros and will take at least 4.5 years to complete. The works are scheduled to be finished by the end of the current decade. The contracting authority is the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.

It is believed to be a matter of time before the contractor for the Riviera Galleria in Elliniko is declared. As emerged from the course of the competition, METKA, TERNA, and the consortium AKTOR-INTRAKAT are the three entities that have submitted their bids and await Lamda Development’s decision. It is yet another large-scale construction project set to commence in 2024 in the investment area of Elliniko.

The construction permit for the building has already been issued since last August. The architectural design is provided by the internationally renowned firm Kengo Kuma and Associates, with Greek participation from BETAPLAN. The signing of the contract will mark the start of the works, with the goal of having the country’s first coastal mall operational by 2027 in the area of Agios Kosmas Marina. The investment will exceed 300 million euros, and the implementing authority is Lamda Development.

The fifth major project concerns the “haunted” expansion of the 6th pier at the port of Thessaloniki. The competition had to be cancelled and re-tendered, and we have two strong contenders vying for it: Archirodon and the consortium METKA-TEKAL. It’s a significant project that will exceed 170 million euros and promises to double container freight traffic, establishing Thessaloniki as a major transit hub.

Thessaloniki Port Authority is the implementing authority, and the project is part of the mandatory investment package for the port’s privatization. The completion of the 6th pier at the Port of Thessaloniki represents a major infrastructure project that will further strengthen our country’s position as a transit hub between East and West. The consortium SALFO-AECOM-SAMARAS AND ASSOCIATES is the independent engineer for the project.