Contract for Evia island’s first major road project in decades to be signed soon

It is now only a matter of time before the signing part for the major road project of the Chalkida Bypass. The contract for the project went through yesterday for presentation in the Parliament to the competent Standing Committee on Production and Trade. What remains is to set a date for signing the contract to begin construction of the project.

The contractor is Mytileneos, which undertakes the project with a discount rate of 7.61%. The contracting authority of the project is the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. For Mytileneos, it will be the second major project undertaken after the Aktio-Ambrakia highway. Very soon he will add another road project, that of the flyover of the Regional Thessaloniki.

It should be noted that the Chalkida and Psachna Bypass project is the first very large project for the Evia region. Although the island is located next to Attica, it has one of the worst road networks in the country. With the project, it is estimated that the level of road safety will be significantly improved, while in the future it may involve other parts of its network in upgrading and modernization.

The cost of the project has been estimated at an amount including VAT of 210 million euros (169.35 million euros without VAT). The main project has a cost including VAT of 125 million euros and the option another 85 million euros. It includes two road sections: the first from Nea Lampsako to the Vathrovouni Tunnel, 2km long, and then to the Vathrovouni Tunnel section to Psachna, 14.7km long. Optionally, the sections include:

a) the section before Nea Lampsako, towards Chalkida / High Bridge, i.e. the section “A. K. Schimatariou – Nea Lampsakos”, approximately 4.0 km long,

b) the section of the Psachni bypass and

c) the section of the North-South Evia connecting artery that connects the Liani Ammos junction of the Chalkida bypass with the road network to southern Evia.

The tender of the project was carried out at the beginning of the year initially with the submission of the files and then with the unsealing of the offers. The duration of the project is set at 48 months from the signing of the contract. The works will start in early 2023 and if there are no delays during the construction period, then they could be completed in 2027.

The project is expected to be financed by NSRF 2021-2027 funds. The tender for the Bypass of Chalkida and Psachna was part of a round of tenders for 4 road projects by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. Under construction is the Neapolis-Agios Nikolaos section of VOAK. In an advanced tender are also: the extension of Kymi Av. which is a new section of Attiki Odos and the Bralos-Amfissa section of the diagonal axis Lamia-Itea-Antirrio.

The profile of the project

The Chalkida Bypass road with the continuous sections of the Psachna Bypass and the North-South Evia connection artery is part of the projects to improve the connection between Athens and Chalkida with northern Evia and – at the same time – to decongest the urban fabric of Chalkida, N. Artakis and Psachni from the passing traffic, which today necessarily passes through the above urban areas.

With the construction of the Chalkida Bypass section and the channeling of the passing traffic to it, on the one hand, the traffic that will follow the new road will be facilitated and the travel time will be significantly reduced, but also – at the same time – the traffic conditions in affected urban areas with a positive effect on the environment and the economic development of the wider region.

With the construction of the continuing sections before Nea Lampsako, to Chalkida / High Bridge and then to the Psachni bypass, and the artery connecting North – South Evia and in the future to Istiaia – Edipso, with the construction of new and/or reconstruction of existing sections with a modern design and upgraded geometry, a single and safe road axis up to Edipsos with the necessary safety and speed characteristics, which will respond to the available tourist potential of northern Evia, will be available for usage.

The specific objective of the project is the complete study and construction of:

1) Of the section of highway section a4vs: N. Lampsakos – Vathrovouniou Tunnel (Km position. 4+080 – 6+000). It is noted that from Km position. 4+960 until C.Th. 5+400 the above standard highway cross-section (α4νσ) is adjusted to a standard cross-section of two traffic lanes β2σ, which is applied for the entire remaining road axis,

2) Of the arterial section of the closed type cross-section β2σ: Vathrovouniou Tunnel – Psachna (Km. position 6+000 – 20+760)

3) Of the sections of option a) the section before Nea Lampsako, towards Chalkida / High Bridge, i.e. the section “A. K. Schimatariou – Nea Lampsakos”, approximately 4.0 km long, b) the section of the Psachni bypass and c) the section of the North-South Evia connection artery that connects the uneven junction Liani Ammos of the Chalkida bypass with the road network to southern Evia