Flyover in Thessaloniki: End of April the completion of the work schedules is estimated

When its construction site is completed, it will be shown how the traffic on the regional road will be shaped in its final form, which is determined in late April, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Nikos Tachiaos, speaking at the 18th Multi-Conference “Innovation & Development”, organized by ka-business.gr. “What is happening now is the forerunners and indeed the forerunners went – at least when I spoke and said this – much faster than we expected and I believe that by the end of April they will be completed and the construction site will take its final form, i.e. it will have been moved to the eastern part of the road towards Sheikh Soo’s side,” said Mr.Tahiaos, explaining that this is too essential to “enter and the operator to start building the project”. Regarding traffic congestion due to the work on FlyOver he said that “essentially when the site is completed then we will see how traffic in the regional in its final form will have been shaped,” noting that the situation is gradually improving. ” Traffic conditions have improved drastically through the city itself for a very simple reason. Because at the moment the city is policed and what really was missing – because that is what causes the charge – is the illegal parking on the main cross-country roads that pass through the city and allow traffic from south to north-east, that is, from the part of Halkidiki and Kalamaria towards PATHE. Slowly we see that things are getting better, because it also changes the pattern of movements into the city. Everyone chooses the way he thinks is now best served and this improves traffic conditions. This does not mean that there is no problem on the regional road,” the Deputy Minister noted, while answering a relevant question said that there is no design for a ring at the moment. Mr. Tachiaos spoke of excellent cooperation with the region for signalling, but also with the Municipality of Thessaloniki, both for the creation of regional parking, and for it to become only a night collection. “An amendment has been tabled – at least signed by me – for granting the Municipality of Thessaloniki an exceptional grant for the coming years, of EUR 13 million, so that it can deal with increased labour costs due to night revenue. Measures have been taken to improve conditions,” he said. “Very important achievement is the concession of Egnatia Road” The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure also referred to the signing of the contract for the concession of Egnatia Road, between the Greek State and TAIPED, and on the other hand the company NEW EGNATIA ROUTE S.A. as the concession holder and the original shareholders, GEK TERNA S.A. and EGIS PROJECTS S.A. speaking of “a very important achievement for which we must thank the people who have worked over and over again.” “There needs to be certifications of tunnels, there needs to be heavy maintenance, there needs to be continuous maintenance, they need to be made step-by-step […] There is an EIA only in Platamonas and the others are off the road and […] these are issues that need investment. It can be invested mainly in the private sector or rather only in the private sector. The Public Investment Programme is not inexhaustible […] and also the European Union no longer finances projects which it has already financed, does not finance their maintenance, but does not finance new road projects easily, unless they are road safety projects. Infrastructure now has a very small share in the NSRF. Thus, the concession of the Egnatia Road is a very important act, a very important act that will allow us this last highway, which does not have the perfectly functional characteristics to acquire it, to be all satisfied by this highway,” he said. Regarding the next step in which the Ministry of Infrastructure is involved, it clarified that it concerns the delivery of the Egnatia Road to the concessionaire. This, he added, will not be done from one day to the next, because a contract has been signed, but some unfinished business will need to be resolved. He also estimated that the project would also bring new investments “for example, the vertical, the second branch will be constructed and the rest will be upgraded to the vertical axis between Greece and Northern Macedonia, in the Halastra and Polycastrostro section”.