“Midsummer steps” for the realization of Chalkida Road Detour

Even though we are at the heart of the Greek summer, there is interesting mobility regarding the implementation of Chalkida Road Detour project. According to a document from the Ministry of Infrastructure, dated August 4, a decision was made for the appointment of a Technical Advisor, aiming to contribute to the Cost-Benefit Analysis. The contractor for the BCA, which is budgeted at 54,000 euros (excl. VAT), is IAPETOS SA.

The project is considered to be of great value for Evia and the city of Chalkida more particularly, as the area hasn’t seen major interventions for the improvement of existing infrastructure in years. It is reminded that for Chalkida Road Detour, 21 km long, environmental licensing and all relevant studies have been already approved. According to the document, the estimated cost of the project will be 230mn euros (+30mn euros for necessary expropriations).

The project is divided into 2 phases: The first phase concerns Nea Lampsakos-Psachna section and the second phase, Evripos High Bridge-Nea Lampsakos. The first 16 km of the new motorway will be allowing a speed limit of 100 km/h. The project will be also featuring a 500-meter-long tunnel in Vathrovouni, 5 interchanges as well as adjoining works (secondary roads, sideways, interchanges etc.).

This section has a cost of 170mn euros (incl. VAT) while expropriations are estimated at 30mn euros. Speed limit for the second section (Evripos High Bridge-New Lampsakos), 4 km long, will be at 70km/h and the construction cost is estimated at 60mn euros.

The project’s funding is being sought by EIB with the negotiations being at an advanced stage. Nevertheless, the final call from EIB will be affected by the findings of the Cost-Benefit Analysis. Chalkida Road Detour aims to improve the connection between Athens and the administrative capital of Evia island and is expected to contribute considerably to the traffic decongestion withing the urban grid of Chalkida and N. Artaki, the development of tourism, the reduction of road accidents and invigoration of the local economy.

The Road Detour has been a long-standing demand of the local authorities and mainly the citizens of Chalkida (and Evia island in general) at least for the past twenty years.

Nikos Karagiannis-ypodomes.com

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