The first 10 kilometres of the new Northern Road Axis of Crete (BOAK) will open to traffic in October, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Dimas announced at Prodexpo 2026, which is being held at the Athens Conservatoire on 14 and 15 October.
The minister outlined the country’s major infrastructure projects under way, linking transport upgrades with attracting investment, growth in the property market and stronger regional economies.
Speaking with Ioannis Orfanos, partner and head of capital markets at Colliers Greece, Mr Dimas set out the ministry’s priorities for the next five years, with particular emphasis on Crete, Attica, Thessaloniki and the country’s international connections.
He noted that infrastructure affects economic activity at every stage, from planning and construction to operation and maintenance.
He singled out the new international airport at Kastelli in Crete, describing it as the most modern airport in Greece and one of the most modern in southeastern Europe.
He said construction was about 73%-74% complete and that the air navigation contract had also been signed.
“We estimate that the airport could begin operating normally in November 2028, all going well,” he said, noting that its operation also depends on upgrades to the road connections.
The BOAK is part of that effort. Mr Dimas described it as one of the country’s last major outstanding motorway projects.
The first 10 kilometres of the Agios Nikolaos-Neapoli section are expected to open this month, while work on the Hersonissos-Neapoli section, being delivered through a public-private partnership, is progressing at a satisfactory pace.
Studies and planning have begun for the concession section from Kissamos to Heraklion, while road safety improvements and works on the bypasses of Chania, Rethymno and Heraklion are under way.
In Attica, he announced that work at the Metamorfosi interchange, where the Attiki Odos motorway connects with the National Road, would be completed by the end of the year.
He explained that vehicles would then enter through two separate traffic lanes, helping to ease the congestion that is currently a problem there.
He also referred to the triple interchange at Skaramagas, for which the contract was signed about three and a half months ago.
The project is particularly important for the movement of heavy vehicles, as the aim is to reduce the amount of traffic passing through built-up areas.
The planned Oinofyta-Eleusis link is also part of this effort, with discussions under way with the European Commission.
The aim is to create a road route that would allow traffic, particularly heavy vehicles, to bypass Attica entirely.
A key part of Mr Dimas’s remarks was the effort to strengthen Greece’s links with Bulgaria and Romania through a new transport corridor.
He said a memorandum of cooperation had been signed with his counterparts in the two countries, with the European Commission participating, to connect the ports of Thessaloniki, Kavala and Alexandroupoli with Burgas, Varna, Ruse and Constanta.
The Baltic-Black Sea-Aegean corridor is intended to speed up the transport of Greek products to Eastern and Central Europe.
The minister said the initiative was also linked to military mobility, which could open up more funding opportunities and support the development of critical infrastructure.
Mr Dimas also discussed the role of the Thriasio Plain and logistics infrastructure in Thessaloniki, as well as the opportunities Greece’s geographical position creates to attract investment in logistics, industry and production.
In Thessaloniki, he said construction of the elevated expressway was nearing 70% completion, with the aim of doubling vehicle capacity per hour from 5,000 to 10,000.
Restoration work following damage caused by Storm Daniel is continuing in Thessaly and two prefectures in Central Greece, using €600 million from the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
Mr Dimas also singled out the railway, stressing that despite Greece’s smaller network and lower usage than in other European countries, rail remains a strategic choice for the state.
The aim, he said, is to increase rail’s share of daily and intercity travel while also making greater use of it to transport freight.
Mr Orfanos, for his part, stressed that the development of the property market cannot be considered separately from public infrastructure.
He explained that foreign institutional investors considering investing in Greece are particularly interested in transport links and the ability to support investment in tourism, logistics, industry and housing.