Ionian Motorway: tender for expansion to the Greek-Albanian borders announced

After yesterday’s announcement by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport about the notice to tender for the completion of the Ionian Motorway with the Ioannina-Kakavia section, the notice of expropriations was also announced. 

In fact, in order to run the process, the ministry proceeded in the form of the urgent forced expropriation of the properties on which the axis will pass. More specifically, the first decisions of the ministry concern the departments:

Subsection 1: Ioannina – Kalpaki, subsection 1.1: from h.th. 4+988.00 to h.th.12+582.38 in T.K. Pedinis, P.K. Kosmiras and T.K. Asvestochorio of D.E. Bizanio of the Municipality of Ioannito in P.E. of Ioannina”. The expenditure amounts to 4.78 million euros.

Subsection 1: Ioannina – Kalpaki, subsection 1.2: from h.th. 12+582.38 to h.th. 21+902.30 in P.K. Kontsikas of D.E. Bizanio of the Municipality of Ioannina and P.K. Peratis, T.K. Petralonon, P.K. Zoodochos of D.E. Passaronos of the Municipality of Zitsa in P.E. of Ioannina”. The expenditure amounts to 5.29 million euros.

Subsection 1: Ioannina – Kalpaki, subsection 1.3: from h.th. 23+441.34 to h.th. 29+347.32 in T.K. Megalou Gardikiou, P.O. Rodotopiou and T.K.

Neochorio of D.E. Passaronos of the Municipality of Zitsa in P.E. of Ioannina”. The expenditure amounts to 1.84 million euros.

Subsection 1: Ioannina – Kalpaki, subsection 1.4: from h.th. 29+347.32 to h.th. 38+177.14 in T.K. Neochorio of D.E. Passaronos, T.K. Great-grandfather of D.E. Zitsa, P.K. Petsaliou and T.K. Gavrision of D.E. Ekali of the Municipality of Zitsa and P.K. Asprangelon of D.E. Central Zagori of the Municipality of Zagori in P.E. of Ioannina”. The expenditure amounts to 4.73 million euros.

Subsection 1: Ioannina – Kalpaki, subsection 1.5: from PO 38+177.14 to PO 50+250.00 in the PO Box of Gavrision of D.E. Ekali of the Municipality of Zitsa, P.K.

Asprangelon, P.K. Ano Pedina and P.K. Kato Pedina of the Central District of Zagori of the Municipality of Zagori, P.O. Negradon, T.K. Kalpakiou and T.K. Dolianon of D.E Kalpaki of the Municipality of Pogoni in P.E. of Ioannina”. The expenditure amounts to 5.85 million euros.

The announcement of the project

With yesterday’s announcement came the decision of the Ministry of Infrastructure for the approval of the tender with an amount of 310 million euros including VAT. The scope of the project concerns the study and construction of the following:

Completion of the Uneven Junction of Egnatia (K0).

Construction of the highway in the section “Uneven junction of Ionia Odos with Egnatia Odos to Uneven junction of Kalpaki with a length of 46.4 km (X.Th. 4+800 – X.Th. 51+237.37) with the construction of six (6) uneven nodes :

1. Uneven Junction of Kosmira – Asvestohori (K1).
2. Grammenochoria Unlevel Junction (K2).
3. Passaronos Uneven Junction (K3) (Option 1).
4. Zitsa Uneven Junction (K4) .
5. Uneven Walnut Knot (K5).
6. Uneven Kalpaki Junction (K6).

As stated in the decision of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the project “Extension of the Ionian Motorway: Ioannina – Kakavia section” (from the end of the Ionian Road concession to Kakavia) is of vital importance for Greece and with its completion is expected to save time movement of vehicles but also to reduce the number of accidents.

The completion of the Road Axis in question in conjunction with its connection with the Ionian Road and the Egnatia Motorway will offer the maximum transport possibilities for people and goods both in Epirus and in the rest of Greece, thus strengthening the local community, as the prefecture of Ioannina has a strong tourism and commercial activity.

In the context of the studies completed in 2015 by the Road Infrastructure Directorate, the construction of a four-lane highway from the end of the Ionian Road concession project to Kalpaki, 46.44 km long, was planned, while for the Kalpaki – Kakavia section, the improvement was planned of the existing road with a total length of 23.38 km.

The project “Extension of Ionian Motorway: Ioannina – Kakavia Section” was characterized as a National Level project and its inclusion in the program planning of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport was approved (Government Gazette 6005 B’/2021).

The project in question is a part of Ionian Motorway, which according to Official Gazette 253/AAP/2015 has been classified as a motorway numbered A5. The Environmental Impact Study of the Ionian Road Section from the End of the Concession to Kalpaki, and its Supplemental Issue, was approved by KYA 145059/30-09-2009 EPO. With the decision No. DOY/5882/14.12.2015 the Final Receipt of the study.

For the Ionian Motorway section beginning with the end of the Concession contract (Km position 4+800) and ending with the end of the Kalpaki Road (Km position 51+237,37) the contractual object that was completed and received includes:

The complete construction of a motorway with a total length of 46.4 km.

In particular, the highway has been designed with a design speed of 100 km/h and with a cross-section that includes two (2) traffic lanes of 3.50m width. and 3.75m each and one (1) 2.30m wide emergency lane in each direction.

The median strip has a total width of 3.15m, including the guide lanes and the two-sided safety barrier (total width of the motorway 22.25m).