Large-scale projects return to Athens

After 12 long years with major projects implemented across the country, the epicenter of new large-scale infrastructure projects returns to Attica and, secondarily, Thessaloniki. During 2004-2017 period, the weight for new projects was shifted mainly to the construction of the new motorway network covering the Greek mainland, while hundreds of other projects aimed for the rural areas to converge with Attica region and other European regions regarding the level of infrastructure. This goal is more or less achieved by now with a number of new supplementary projects remaining, while new generation projects are once again gravitated towards the capital.

Over the last 12 years we have seen mainly railway projects (some of which are still struggling to be completed); the extension Athens Metro to Elliniko and Peristeri, the extension of the Tramway to Piraeus. Faliron Bay Restoration is now underway consituting the largest environmental intervention, so far, in the city that will be completed gradually from 2019-2021.

A whole new generation of projects including the construction of the Athens Metro Line 4, follows: the extension of Suburban Railway to Lavrio and Rafina, the extensions of Attiki Motorway to Lavrio and Vouliagmenis Avenue, the huge investment in Hellinikon area, the new cruise dock in Piraeus Port, the new Intercity Buses Terminal in Eleonas, the new logistics center in Thriasio Plain, the completion of all upgrade works at the Central Railway Station of Athens and along with the new railway tunnel in Sepolia area, the extension of the Tramway to Keratsini, the New Metropolitan Park in Lipasmata (Piraeus) and the undergrounding of Athens Metro Line 1 between Faliro-Piraeus section.

There are also some other projects, which at the moment are not prioritized such as the extensions of Athens Metro Line 2 to Ilion and Glyfada or the extension of the Tramway to new areas (Patission, Argyroupoli, Freatida etc.)

At the same time, Thessaloniki also enters an “orbit” of new major projects having as a flagship the under-construction Thessaloniki Metro. Soon enough, we are about to see the completion of the first phase of the city’s Metro network and from that point and on, the extensions to Evosmos/Kordelio, Efkarpia and the Airport.

Other projects waiting in the queue are: the Western Suburban Railway, the completion of the 6th Pier of Thessaloniki Port, the extension of Makedonia Airport Terminal, and the nomination of new generation projects including: the development of the Tram network as supplementary to the Metro system, the legendary Marine Urban Transportation system, the renovation of the city’s Eastern Ring Road etc.

Let’s not forget that for all aforementioned plans, of course, a necessary condition is a positive stance from the inavaluable European funding tools (i.e. Juncker Plan, NSRF 2014-2020 and hopefully an NSRF for the period 2021-2027.

Nikos Karagiannis-ypodomes.com

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