Thessaloniki’s Top-9+1 big infrastructure projects to transform the city

9+1 major projects in Thessaloniki aspire to change the face of the country’s second largest city. These projects are mainly transport projects to help improve the transport conditions in Thessaloniki which are currently at saturation rates.

In Thessaloniki, in particular, the implementation of a well-planned project program worth approximately 5 billion euros is underway, which concerns the city and the wider region. But what are these projects?

     1. FlyOver of Regional Thessaloniki

It is a PPP project with a budget of 377 million euros (excluding VAT) and we are talking about a project ideally designed for Thessaloniki, a modern above-ground highway, without tolls, that will change the daily life of the city.

The tender started at the end of 2020 and bids were given at the end of 2021. The sponsor consortium is between AVAX-Mytileneos. The contract for the PPP project was signed at the end of the year until the first construction sites will be installed in the next period to start its construction. The Contracting Authority is the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.

2. Thessaloniki Metro

Regarding the Thessaloniki Metro, a great effort is being made to enable the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and the Attiko Metro to deliver this emblematic project to Thessaloniki in the first half of 2024. It is a complex task as Venizelos station needs to be completed in record time which was delayed due to the antiquities. The extension to Kalamaria will be delivered in 2024.

The aim is to highlight the archaeological findings in the Metro and to have their presence in the stations. At the same time, the tender for the operation and maintenance of the Thessaloniki Metro will soon run through a PPP tender in which it is estimated that European companies will also participate.

The project consists of the 9.6 km main line with 13 stations and the 4.8 km Kalamaria line with 5 stations. On the basic line, the contractor is the AKTOR-WEBUILD-HITACHI scheme and on the Kalamaria line, AKTOR. The contracting authority is Attiko Metro.

3. Courthouses of Central Macedonia

This is a PPP competition for the creation of new Courthouses in Serres, Edessa and upgrading of the existing courthouse in Thessaloniki. The tender is ongoing from 2021.

The consortiums that have passed the B`phase are: GEK TERNA, AKTOR CONCESSIONS, AVAX, MYTILINEOS-ATESE, INTRAKAT-REDEX. The tender is run by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. The cost is estimated at 148 million euros.

4. Children’s Hospital of Thessaloniki

This is yet another large donation from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. The University Children’s Hospital of Thessaloniki will be built on the north-western side of Thessaloniki, in Filiro, with a donation of 150 million euros from the Foundation and according to the planning it is planned to be completed and handed over to the public health system in December 2025. The tender is ongoing and within 2023 it is estimated that work will begin.

5. Aliakmona’s Bridge

This is a project that upgrades the Aegean Motorway and is considered of great importance for increasing the level of road safety. The works were carried out in the direction towards Thessaloniki, in the Maliakos-Kleidi section.

The 600-meter-long Aliakmona bridge is undergoing a complete reconstruction of its carrier with the replacement of the deck and the addition of 6 new intermediate piers and 2 abutments. The works are carried out by AVAX for the Aegean Motorway.

It is a hub for the wider region of Central Macedonia. A project that has been completed at the end of 2022.

6. Road Axis Thessaloniki-Edessa

This is a PPP road project promoted by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. The tender of the project is a fact and on December 5, 2022 it started with the expression of interest. Now we are expected to move to Phase B of the process. It is a project that is expected with great interest as the current axis needs an immediate upgrade.

It has a total length of approximately 80 km and a budget of 419 million euros, which includes operation and maintenance.

This is a project in the region of Central Macedonia, it is of vital importance, it extends from the prefecture of Thessaloniki to the prefecture of Pella. The project will reduce travel times, and therefore costs, will provide new standards of road safety, and will bring the city and the industrial area closer to the productive hinterland of Pella and the Region in general.

7. Road connection OLTH-PATHE

This project is under construction by AKTOR. It concerns the connection of the 6th pier of OLTH with the country’s highway network. The contracting authority is Egnatia Odos. Its delivery is estimated for the beginning of 2024. This project will significantly increase the possibility of combined transport and the overall competitiveness of the Port of Thessaloniki, while the development of the port brings development to the city, large investments and jobs.

8. Railway connection OLTH

Last year, ERGOSE also announced the project of connecting OLTH with the country’s railway network. The aim is to turn the port into a freight transport and logistics hub in Northern Greece and with a direct positive influence on the Balkan markets.

9. West Thessaloniki Suburban

This project was tendered with the ThPA rail link as a package by ERGOSE. It is a project that brings inactive lines back to life in Western Thessaloniki and also creates some new ones with the aim of creating Suburban lines that will serve the western side of the city.

         The +1 project

The tenth project concerns the extension of the 6th pier in the port of Thessaloniki. The project is considered critical for the development of the port and the city. It will double freight capacity and make the city a freight hub to the Balkans and Eastern Europe. The relevant tender is pending and as it has been known, the project will be undertaken by the consortium “MYTILINEOS SA – ROVER MARITIME SL – HDK SA”