Greece’s most benefited regions in the era of “new generation projects”

The new, large-scale projects that are slowly making their way to implementation have a big difference compared to the ones in the past. They are not mainly about motorways anymore, although there are still quite a few in this category.

In this new generation, we see many more railway and building projects, shaping a new trend in the constructions. This new reality, of course, is bound to have a strong effect on the operation of several technical companies.

A clear winner in this new realithy is undoubtedly the region of Attica. Athens Metro Line 4 and Hellinikon Redevelopment are 2 flagship projects that will create thousands of new jobs in the next 10 years and will transform the capital. Other projects for the capital’s administrative region include:

– Salamina’s Underwater Road Tunnel

– Thriassion Plain Logistics Center and Thriassion 2 projects, in Western Attica

– Sepolia Underground Railway Tunnel

– Academy Gardens Mall

– Skaramagas triple motorway interchange

– Stage B’ construction works for Athens Central Railway Station 

– New terminal station for intercity and international bus services, in Eleonas area

– New Cruise Pier in Piraeus Port

– Lipasmata area Metropolitan Park (also in Piraeus)

– Tramway extension to Keratsini and Perama

– Mall in Piraeus train terminal station

– Indoor gym facilities in Nea Smyrni municipality

– Stream arrangement works in Vari 

– Underwater main water pipe to Eghina island and

– Faliro Bay restoration works that have already started.

Crete is also a great beneficiary as it has “scored” two major projects for the island: Crete’s Northern Motorway Axis (aka VOAK) and the new International Airport of Kasteli, that will come to replace the existing, old one in the city of Heraklion. Total cost for both projects soars to bn euros. For the tourism industry, we are expecting investments in Elounda Hills and Kavo Sidero, while in the energy sector, we expect investments in wind farms and the first electrical interconnection with the mainland (Peloponnese).

Major projects are also waiting for Western Greece with rail to dominate. We expect multiple, and possibly time-consuming, works in order for a double-track, fully electrified line to reach Patras Port. Patra-Pyrgos Motorway, Waste Treatment Plant in Ilia Prefecture and the completion of Aktio-Amvrakia and Aktio-Preveza Motorways are also in the pipeline.

Regions with less mobility

In the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace we have Alexandroupolis Waste Treatment Plant, the General Hospital of Komotini, the construction of Xanthi-Borders road axis, a new branch of Egnatia Motorway, and the IGB interconnector.

In Epirus, we have Ioannina-Kakavia, as an extension of the existing, newly-released Ionian Motorway, sewerage works in Ighumenitsa and Preveza and a new vertical road axis towards Tzoumerka (off Ionian Motorway).

In Central Greece, Lamia-Xynada (E65), Chalkida Road Detour, SKA-Oinoi railway upgrade (along with Attica region),natural gas network extensions and a big touristic investment in Atalanti Hills are definitely the “star” projects, waiting for implementation in the region.

Regions that lost the most

In the region of Central Macedonia, the projects that are coming up from now on, are relatively limited: the extension of the port’s 6th Pier, Gonou (former army camp) Logistics Center, the new Children’s Hospital and natural gas netwok extensions. Given its size and population, it could be considered to be one of the “underprivileged” regions.

In Peloponnese, we have Kiato-Eghio railway section (along with Western Greece) and Isthmos-Loutraki Suburban Railway’s branch upgrade and re-operation, 3 Waste Treatment Plants and the electrical interconnection with the island of Crete.

In Western Macedonia we have Trikala-Egnatia of E65 (along with Thessaly). There is a complete lack of new projects here and we have to wait a lot until we see large projects for the area like the Railroad Egnatia.

In the islandic regions, major projects concern mainly touristic investments while, for South Aegean specifically, a large electrical interconnection  project with the mainland grid, consisting of multiple phases, is currently in full progress.

Nikos Karagiannis-ypodomes.com

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