VOAK: tenders for the various sections of Crete’s new motorway in the pipeline

The new date for the submission of binding offers for the main section of VOAK, i.e. from Chania to the Peninsula is the 20th of April. By decision of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the date was changed from March 31 to April 20 because, as stated in the reasoning of the decision, a multi-month extension was requested by a participant, while it is stated that an extension is needed to achieve greater competition.

The project has an estimated cost of 1.5 billion euros. Funding will be drawn from the NSRF 2021-2027 and the Recovery Fund. Let’s remember that Phase A started on 18.10.18 with the following consortiums: 1.AKTOR CONCESSIONS, 2.GEK TERNA, 3.AVAX, 4.VINCI, 5.MYTILINEOS-INTERTOLL. 

In 2022, it was finalized that all consortiums passed to Phase B, while the design was also finalized, while at the beginning of the year, the first official date for submitting bids was announced.

The main part

The bids for the 157.5 km section will also determine who will take over the main section of the VOAK, the one with the largest daily traffic. It is reminded that this section also includes the Chania-Kissamos section as an option.

We should remember that the construction of VOAK has been divided into three distinct parts: the first is the concession section between Chania and Hersonissos, the second is the PPP for the Hersonissos-Neapolis section and the third is the public project in the Neapolis-Agios Nikolaos.

Of the three sections, the contract for the eastern section, from Neapolis to Agios Nikolaos, was signed last month. The contracting company is AKTOR of the 186 million euro project. Sources close to the tenders estimate that in 2023, the first two sections will gradually be signed and start, which make up the body of VOAK.

The projects, due to the financing of the Recovery Fund, have a suffocating schedule and its completion should have occurred by the end of 2025. Regarding the schedule, as mentioned above, at the end of 2025 the Neapolis-Agios Nikolaos section will be completed, around 2027 the Hersonissos-Neapolis section and in 2028 the main section of Chania-Hersonissos.

Middle section in 2023

The second tender, for the middle section from Hersonissos to Neapolis, is in its final stage and signatures are expected soon. If there are no delays, the signatures for the Public-Private Partnership contract will take place in the near future.

The 22.4 km long project will be financed by the NSRF 2021-2027 and the Recovery Fund. The consortium undertaking the project consists of GEK TERNA-AKTOR CONCESSIONS and INTRAKAT. The cost of the project reaches 300 million euros.