The Northern Road Axis of Crete (VOAK), described as Europe’s largest ongoing highway project, is advancing across four regional sections with safety improvements already underway on key stretches, according to Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Dimas following a site visit on April 20, 2026.
Dimas inspected construction work in Chania, Rethymno, and Heraklion — areas that form the core concession segment from Kissamos to Heraklion peninsula, spanning 187 kilometers — before proceeding to the remaining sections: the SDIT project from Heraklion peninsula to Neapolis and the public works from Neapolis to Agios Nikolaos. He was accompanied by Infrastructure Secretary General Dimitris Anagnostopoulos.
The minister emphasized that VOAK represents a decades-long infrastructure backlog, calling it “the last outstanding highway project the state has in the country,” and noted that active construction crews are now operating simultaneously in Chania, Rethymno, and Heraklion, signaling strong progress.
Safety interventions have already been completed on two of seven identified high-risk points along the existing route, with Dimas stating that parallel safety upgrades aim to reduce accidents on the current road, which suffers from severe congestion, high accident rates, and inadequate safety infrastructure — particularly during summer months.
According to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the project has surpassed 40 reporting cycles and is advancing at a satisfactory pace, with active works in major cities and safety measures either completed or initiated at critical locations on the existing axis.
The goal, Dimas said, is to deliver a modern, safe highway serving not only tourism but primarily the daily needs of Crete’s residents, improving connectivity to ports and airports while supporting broader island development.
In Heraklion, Dimas was joined by Crete Regional Governor Stavros Arnaoutakis, Heraklion deputies from New Democracy, and South Aegean Regional Governor Giorgos Hatzimarkou, where he highlighted that safety works have already been finished from Chania to Kolymbari and from Heraklion to Linoperamata, with a target of covering 131 kilometers by summer.
He referenced the Patra-Pyrgos safety model, where head-on collisions have been eliminated and fatal accidents reduced by 85%, as evidence of the effectiveness of such measures.
The project is being executed under three separate contracts and integrates both the concession segment and public works, combining state and private sector efforts to deliver VOAK to Cretans as swiftly as possible.
What is the total length of the core concession segment of the VOAK project?
The core concession segment of the VOAK project spans 187 kilometers, running from Kissamos to the Heraklion peninsula.
How many safety intervention points have been completed so far along the existing route?
Safety interventions have been completed at two of the seven identified high-risk points along the existing road axis.
What is the target length of safety works to be completed by summer along the VOAK route?
The target is to complete safety works across a total of 131 kilometers by summer, covering stretches from Chania to Kolymbari and from Heraklion to Linoperamata.
Under how many separate contracts is the VOAK project being implemented?
The VOAK project is being implemented through three separate contracts, covering the concession segment, the SDIT works, and the public works to Agios Nikolaos.