Nikos Papathanasis: The extension of the Ionian Road Ioannina – Kakavia

Deputy Minister for Finance, Nikos Papathanasis, announced the accession to the NSRF of its expansion and in particular to the department – Kacavia. In particular, according to the relevant act adopted by the General Secretariat for the Management of Sectoral Programmes of the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Social Fund, the project Ionian Road Extension, Department: Ioannina – Kacavia, is part of the sectoral programme of the Ministry of Finance “Transport 2021 – 2027, with the beneficiary of the Special Office for Public Construction and Maintenance of Transport Infrastructure and a budget of EUR 289.257,632,88. The project concerns the construction of the Ioannina – Kakabia road from the contribution of the Ionian Road with Egnatia (A/K Egnatia) to Kacavia and the Greek-Albanian border and includes two sub-sections: Subsection 1: Ioannina – Kalpaki. Starting with the Egnatia uneven node and ending the end of the Calpaki uneven node and total length 46.40 km on new engraving. The subsection includes six uneven nodes. Subsection 2: Kalpaki – Kakabia. Starting at the end of the uneven node Kalpaki and ending the Kakavia border station and a total length of 23.11 km, where the upgrading of the existing road is planned. The subsection includes six uneven nodes. All necessary supporting actions are also included in practice: expropriations, displacements – restorations of OKO networks and links to them and archaeological research and work. Upon completion of the project, problems of accessibility and connectivity of geographically isolated and inaccessible areas of the wider W.E. are expected to be addressed. Ioannina, such as: The burden of the city of Ioannina with heavy vehicle traffic as well as the passing traffic entering the city’s wider urban fabric. The increased risk of road safety due to the transition from a modern high-speed and long-distance highway, such as the Ionian Road, to a semi-urban road network with leveled nodes. The difficulty of accessibility of the wider region of the Hellenic Republic. Ioannina in important health services centers, such as the University Hospital of Ioannina, education, such as the University of Ioannina, and work, such as the Industrial Area. The expected benefits from the implementation of the project shall also include: The increase in the accessibility of the WEU. Ioannina in the rest of the country and in central transport hubs – e.g. Igoumenitsa Port – combined with the expected to operate in their entirety from 2029 highways of Olympia Road, Egnatia Road, PATHE and Central Greece Highway E65. The retention of population decline, through the untapped to date dynamics of local and regional development. The strengthening of the historical, cultural and religious capital of the Hellenic Republic. Ioannina, resulting in an increase in domestic and international tourism. To stimulate commercial and export activity, through improving the connection with the Western Balkans at the Kacavia border post. Strengthen the accessibility of goods and in particular the BI.A. Ioannina, resulting in a reduction in the transport time of the goods and facilitating the management of the supply chain. The increase in regional GDP and employment in the U.S. Ioannina during both construction and during its operation.