Salamina Underwater Tunnel’s tender under development

Future underwater tunnel that will link Salamina island and Perama area in the mainland of Attica region, surpassed another difficulty as, according to information provided at Ypodomes.com, the Council of State has reached a decision rejecting the demands submitted by Salamina Environmental Association in 2012, requesting the abolishment of the project plans.

This, consequently, gives the Ministry of Infrastructure the liberty to proceed more quickly to the completion of the competitive dialogue procedure, which is part of the ongoing tender . As early as January 29th, interested parties submitted their proposals for the project planning, which are now being examined by the tender committee. The evaluation is expected to be completed by Spring.

However, the next steps are the most crucial. The project design which is under development in the Ministry of Infrastructure and the participants’ proposals, the scope and details of the project will be finalized, i.e. the tunnel’s design, which method will be used for its construction, environmental and traffic issues etc.

This will bring us to the next stage, which is the approval of the project’s environmental terms by the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the consequent approval by Attica Region’s authorities. Once these have been achieved, hopefully in 2018, participants will be invited to submit their binding offers.

It is reminded that the conteders are: METKA, TERNA and VINCI CONCESSIONS–VINCI MOTORWAYS–AKTOR CONCESSIONS J/V.

According to the same sources, during the current stage it will be clarified, as was the case in the tender for Kastelli International Airport in Crete, the participation percentage of the State and EIB (which will most likely participate financially) and in the project, at a funding level. The project has an estimated cost of 350-400mio euros.

The aim is for the contractor to be assigned by 2019, which will lead to the approval of the contract by the Court of Auditors and the Greek Parliament shrtly after, allowing the initiation of the construction phase that will last for, approximately, 4 years. The project concerns the Design, Construction, Funding, Operation, Maintenance and Exploitation of Salamina Underwater Tunnel, which, altogether, is estimated to be cheaper than the current prices per vehicle and passenger using ferry-boats.

Nikos Karagiannis-ypodomes.com

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