The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Dimas, to the Parliament’s Production and Trade Committee during the debate on the approval of the contract.
Mr. Dimas noted that today’s session represents the final institutional step before the signing of the contract for the implementation of a project of strategic importance for Western Attica and the entire Athens Basin, which had remained pending for more than two decades. As the government and the political leadership of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport have emphasized, they have made it a priority to complete all necessary procedures so that the project can finally move forward.
The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport emphasized that the project is designed to address one of the most significant traffic problems in Attica, as the Skaramanga area handles approximately 100,000 vehicles daily, of which nearly 20,000 are heavy trucks, with significant impacts on traffic, the supply chain, and economic activity.
As he stated, according to the results of the traffic microsimulation model, the average speed in the area is expected to increase from 28 km/h to 47 km/h, while the estimated economic benefit for users amounts to approximately 10 million euros per year.
At the same time, he emphasized that this is a project of high social and economic value, with no tolls, which will reduce travel time and vehicle operating costs.
Mr. Dimas summarized the key benefits of the project, stating: “In conclusion, if I had to summarize the benefits of this project in three points, they would be: less inconvenience, faster travel times, and greater road safety for thousands of people.”
The Minister presented a detailed overview of the project’s scope, which includes the completion of the Western Aegaleo Regional Road (D.P.L.A.), the Skaramanga Grade-Separated Interchange to connect the WRA with the Athens-Corinth National Highway, the upgrade of the existing Schisto Grade-Separated Interchange, the construction of the Nafpigeia Grade-Separated Interchange, the realignment of the Athens-Corinth National Highway and Schisto Avenue between the aforementioned interchanges, as well as the construction of the necessary stormwater drainage network in the area.
Specifically, among other things, the projects to be constructed are:
a) The completion of the Western Aegaleo Regional Boulevard (D.P.L.A.) on its final 1.515-km section (where only earthworks have been carried out, though they have not yet been completed) up to the Athens–Corinth National Highway.
b) The construction of the Skaramanga Grade-Separated Interchange to connect the Western Aegaleo Regional Road with the Athens–Corinth National Highway.
c) The upgrade of the existing Schisto Grade-Separated Interchange, utilizing the existing two-lane bridge to handle traffic between Schisto – Corinth traffic with two lanes and the construction of a second overpass bridge (one lane) over the Athens–Corinth National Highway to accommodate traffic between Athens and Schisto. As part of the construction of the above projects, an upgrade of the Athens–Corinth National Highway between the Skaramanga grade-separated interchange and the Schisto grade-separated interchange is also planned, involving the expansion and reconfiguration of its traffic lanes.
d) The construction of the Shipyards Grade-Separated Interchange on Schistos Avenue, upstream of the Skaramanga Shipyards, which will replace the at-grade signalized intersection at the junction of Schistos Avenue and Palaska Street, as well as the completion of the necessary traffic management measures on the area’s road network. As part of the planning for this interchange and the upgrade of the Schistos grade-separated interchange, the section of Schistos Avenue between these two interchanges is also scheduled for reconstruction.
In addition, the project scope includes three optional components, which involve the construction of additional ramps at the Schisto and Nafpigeia grade-separated interchanges, the demolition and reconstruction of the existing bridge at the Schisto Grade-Separated Interchange, and the development of the Aspropyrgos Grade-Separated Half-Interchange, utilizing the D.P.L.A. Underpass to connect it to the Athens – Corinth.
As stated by the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, the total contract cost of the project amounts to 40.8 million euros (including VAT), while the construction period has been set at 36 months from the signing of the contract.
Concluding his remarks, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport emphasized: “Today’s meeting paves the way for the next, decisive stage: the signing of the contract and, consequently, the start of construction on the project. What matters now is not the delays of the past, but the commitment of the present and the result that will be delivered to the citizens. After all, every major project has one true beneficiary: the citizen. And I am certain that the completion of this major project will provide significant and lasting relief to traffic congestion, while simultaneously transforming Attica into a modern, functional, and safe metropolitan transportation system.”