In a wide program of projects implemented in Crete Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Giorgos Karagiannis of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport noted that construction sites will be set up in the BOAC in the coming weeks.

“Only from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, and only for Crete, we are launching projects worth almost 3.5 billion euros,” said Mr. Karagiannis, speaking at the New Democracy Political Leadership Academy.

Construction sites are being developed in BOAC

Especially for BOAC, a project with a budget of more than 2.2 billion euros, he noted that the first construction sites will begin to be equipped in the coming weeks, and by the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, “all fronts will have opened”.

Regarding the main stages of the construction of a major project, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure noted: “At the beginning of September, a contract was signed for a project for the improvement – the expansion of the existing section of Neapoli – Ag. Nikolaos in Lassithi. In early 2023, construction of the BOAC section from the peninsula to Naples will begin.

Especially for the Chania-Heraklion section, he emphasized that “this is the largest concession project starting in Europe, and one of the largest ever implemented in Greece. Already last week, the Questions of Stage B of the Competition were approved and distributed to the participants so that at the end of March we would have a temporary contractor for this grandiose project.”

Regarding the planning of the rest of the sections, Mr. Karagiannis said that studies on the Kissamos-Chania option are ongoing, so that during the first quarter of 2023, an EIA will be submitted and the construction of this section will begin simultaneously with Chania-Heraklion.

In addition, the maturation of BOAK research for:

• Souda – Airport section and
• sections east of Agios Nikolaos to Sitia.

In fact, Mr. Karagiannis announced “important developments for both sections during 2023, especially the Kalo Chorio – Fruzi bridge sections and the Fruzi bridge section to the Pahia Ammos bypass.”

“In addition, in addition to new road projects, we are implementing projects to improve road safety, as well as a set of projects aimed at combating landslides,” added the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure.

Other projects in Crete

Other infrastructure interventions are also being implemented. “Last month, additional work was announced on the Bramianou reservoir and flood control work on Gra Ligias and the Myrtos dam,” said Mr. Karagiannis.

In addition, according to the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, within a week “the pre-selection of bidders for the construction of the Tavronitis Dam will begin, which will resolve a multi-year request to irrigate high-yielding agricultural land by saving water, and also make a significant contribution to protecting the surrounding areas from floods.” .

Regarding the new airport in Kasteli, Mr. Karagiannis announced that “more than 20% of the work is completed”, while for the construction projects being implemented on the island, “procedures for the construction of new courthouses in Heraklion and Chania are ongoing, and the reconstruction Rethymno Courthouse.

“Greece has made significant progress over the past 3 years. The state is forming new trusting relationships with citizens,” Mr. Karagiannis stressed.

To the elections

“2023 will be an election year,” continued the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and pointed out that “in recent decades, there has not been a government that has faced such important, mainly external, crises in such a short time and with such significant success.”

Mr. Karagiannis noted that “citizens will be asked to reward or reject the strong performance of the Greek economy. They will be asked to reward the fact that this government has allocated more than 50 billion euros to overcome the energy and financial crisis. They will be asked to be rewarded for undertaking the largest public infrastructure modernization program in decades since 2004,” he said.

“To put it simply, they will be asked to decide whether they will renew their trust in the prime minister, in the government, in a faction that, as it has done many times in the past, is leading the country safely through very difficult times. “, – concluded the deputy minister.