K. Mitsotakis for E65: A road of enormous development importance and a project that went through 40 waves

At its 26th kilometer E65 the opening ceremony was held for the delivery of the overall section Lamia-Kalambaka of the modern Central Greece E65 Motorway (136 km long), with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressing that the project is important especially for the western Thessaly. “Two and a half hours of accessibility from Athens to Karditsa, 3 hours to Trikala,” said the prime minister, speaking of a road of enormous developmental importance in areas of natural beauty that have been severely tested by natural disasters.

Regarding the history of the project, the prime minister said that “it went through 40 waves, it was tested in the financial crisis, it remained a stump only with the middle section and technical problems in the south, while the north literally found itself in a financial vacuum.”

“With the persistence of the government and tough negotiations with the Commission, the completion of the northern section, which was planned 15 years ago, was ensured”, the prime minister emphasized, and in addition to the development dimension, he also referred to road safety, reminding the National Strategy for reducing traffic.

He emphasized that in a short time “this road will have become a habit, we will have forgotten the bends of Domokos and will take it for granted, but we must simply remember that nothing is a given and for all these projects it took a lot of effort and a lot of work to we finally bring them to completion.”

“Two months before the June 9 elections“, The Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated that the projects would never have been carried out without the funding and support of the European Union.

“THE New Democracy put Greece in Europe, kept it and is fighting for Greece to become Europe at all levels, claiming financial resources and translating the country’s relationship with the European family into tangible projects for the benefit of every Greek family,” added the Prime Minister.

It was mentioned to the NSRF and the Recovery Fund as financial tools and for the second he said that overall Greece has claimed 36 billion in resources. “How we managed to put road work in the Recovery Fund is another matter,” said the prime minister, and underlined that the northern section will be completed with resources from the Recovery Fund.

“In 2019 we made a commitment when the Greek citizens trusted us for the first time to turn Greece into a vast construction site. The construction sites give way to projects, but of course planning and completion continues with unabated intensity, said Kyriakos Mitsotakis. “The Department Patras – Pyrgos is coming to completion, pending on BOAK has been launched with certainty of funding and at the same time other projects of regional importance such as the connection are progressing Lamias with Karpenisi and the axis of northern Eviaas well as the Ioannina-Kakavia connection, said the prime minister, speaking of outstanding issues from the past that are being launched by the government despite the obstacles that accompany such complex projects”.

Chr. Staikouras: Regional development, tourism and trade are promoted

Mr. Staikouras underlined that “with the completion of the project, which is of particular importance, faster and more economical movements will be achieved, the safety of road movements and transport will be strengthened, regional development, tourism and freight traffic will be promoted, further contributing to the reduction of the unemployment rate and in the further increase of per capita income, access to abroad is facilitated.”

N. Tachiaos: The project is delivered two months and two days before its contractual deadline

The first to take the stage was the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, responsible for infrastructure issues, Nikos Tachiaos. As he said: “Soon one will be able to start from Athens and reach areas that were previously extremely difficult to reach.”

He emphasized that “the great success we have to record is that this project is delivered two months and two days before its contractual deadline”.

He also said that “the Greek construction sector has great moments to show and this is a great moment”. Expressing thanks to all those who contributed to the completion of the project, he said that “over time we must recognize all people for their contribution to such projects”.

And he added that “the current success of this project is credited to the governments of Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Projects that had been bogged down for so many years, came out of the drawers and became a reality by the government with the personal interest of the prime minister”.

He also pointed out that many of the areas through which the E65 passes were recently tested. This road is a development fuse for these areas and we must support these areas.

“Today what I feel and I think we all share is that it is a wonderful day and we should enjoy it,” he emphasized in closing.

Then the president and CEO of GEK TERNA spoke, George Peristeris.