Greece Launches Tender for Ioannina-Albania Road Netork

The Greek Infrastructure Ministry announced this week a tender for a road project to facilitate travel between Ioannina in Epirus, northern Greece, and the Albanian border.

More specifically, the project budgeted at 310 million euros concerns a 70-kilometer road network from Ioannina to Kalpaki and the Kakavia Border Crossing Point which connects with Greek Motorway 5 also known as Ionia Odos Motorway.

“The 70 km long road axis will connect the capital of the Epirus Region with neighboring Albania with speed and safety,” said the ministry, setting a four-year time-frame for the road network to be completed.

The project was initially rejected due to high costs and redesigned in order to be funded under the ESPA (NSRF) 2021-2027 tool. In addition to facilitating connectivity with Albania and ensuring safety, the local network which will help ease heavy vehicle circulation and traffic around Ioannina.

Infrastructure Minister Kostas Karamanlis. (archive photo)

The high-speed highway will have two lanes in each direction. The first phase of the project concerns the construction of the 46.4-kilometer section from the Ionia Odos-Egnatia Odos intersection to Kalpaki which will include six junctions: Kosmiras – Asvestochori, Grammenochorion, Passaronos, Zitsa, Karyes and Kalpaki.

The second phase concerns the upgrade of the 23.11-kilometer Kalpaki – Kakavia section.

“This project has a national dimension, it showcases the region and connects it with the wider region of Western Macedonia and Epirus with the Western Balkans. It ensures access to the Ionia Odos Motorway, a project that brings areas out of isolation,” said Infrastructure Minister Kostas Karamanlis, referring to the project which was initially announced in 2005.