The first works have begun for the construction of the new Ioannina-Kakavia road axis, a project of key importance for Epirus and the cross-border connection of Greece with Albania and the Southwest Balkans. The start of the interventions marks the transition of the project from the planning phase to practice, after many years of waiting.
Construction sites have already been developed in the field and the first preparatory works are being carried out, such as clearing and clearing vegetation, as well as initial earthmoving interventions. The shaping of the ground with heavy machinery confirms that the project is entering a track of implementation, with works starting from the area of the Egnatia Motorway interchange.
The project contract has been signed since the end of 2024 and foresees a completion time frame of approximately four and a half years. The total budget amounts to hundreds of millions of euros, while the contractor is a large construction group, with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport as the contracting authority.
The new motorway, with a total length of approximately 70 kilometers, will be the natural continuation of the Ionian Highway from Ioannina to the Greek-Albanian border in the area of Kakavia. The axis is divided into two main sections: the first, from Ioannina to Kalpaki, is being constructed on a new alignment and includes a series of grade-separated interchanges, while the second, from Kalpaki to Kakavia, concerns the upgrading of the existing road up to the border station.
The road has been designed to modern motorway specifications, with two lanes and an emergency lane in each direction, a central island and a design speed of up to 100 kilometers per hour. Upon completion, it will significantly improve road safety, reduce travel times and decongest the existing road network in the Ioannina area.
At the same time, the axis will strengthen the role of Epirus as the country's gateway to the Western Balkans, directly connecting the Ionian with the Egnatia Motorway, the Ioannina Airport and the Industrial Area. Significant benefits are also expected for areas such as Konitsa, which will gain faster access to the national highway network.
The completion of the Ioannina - Kakavia section will close the circle of the Ionian Highway, creating a single road axis from Antirrio to the borders and connecting the country with the wider European Adriatic corridor. This is the largest new road project implemented in Epirus since the delivery of the Ionian Highway, with a clear developmental and geostrategic footprint.
