Thessaloniki is entering a trajectory of major changes, with the Flyover progressing impressively and the Kalamaria metro heading toward completion. Deputy Infrastructure Minister Nikos Tachiaos assured that deliveries remain on target, while bringing to the forefront the serious issue of fare evasion on the metro. The new blue formwork is expected to dramatically accelerate construction work.
The Flyover will be delivered in May 2027 and the Thessaloniki metro extension to Kalamaria in February 2026, Deputy Infrastructure Minister Nikos Tachiaos assured today from Thessaloniki.
“The Flyover construction is going “at full speed” and the project will be delivered in May 2027,” Mr. Tachiaos said characteristically, who conducted a morning inspection of the Flyover project, while currently participating in a closed working meeting, under Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Konstantinos Kyranakis, where the issue of fare evasion observed on the Thessaloniki metro will be addressed.
Second “blue” formwork to be installed during winter
The Flyover construction work is progressing extremely quickly and dynamically, Mr. Tachiaos noted, according to whom the “big challenge” is the operation of the so-called blue formwork.
“The truth is that the project has not yet found the rhythm we would like it to find, in the sense that each opening must be completed in a time period, which is about 15 days, and this is not happening,” Mr. Tachiaos said, clarifying, however with emphasis, that while this innovative construction method may create some initial problems and delays, as we are at the beginning of concrete pouring, “it will quickly pick up its pace and the work will progress at impressive speed.”
Specifically regarding the “blue” formwork, he emphasized that it is expected to be put into operation during the winter and explained that the agreement with the contractor has already been finalized, with the second formwork destined for the next construction front, giving developmental momentum to the timeline. He added that political supervision is continuous and frequent visits by ministry officials are made, in order to maintain pressure on the private entity and the contractor, ensuring project delivery according to the schedule set from the start of construction.
Metro: Ghost tickets and hand-to-hand transfers bring measures
“Many passengers, users of the Thessaloniki metro, leave their ticket on the stairs or give it to the next person, since it lasts 70 minutes. It’s a practice that, while showing ‘solidarity,’ constitutes a serious problem for the system,” Mr. Tachiaos pointed out, adding that “other measures must be taken.”
As he said, the issue is known to Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Konstantinos Kyranakis, and is expected to be discussed in today’s meeting. “Instructions will be given both to the operating company and to the one that has constructed and installed the ticketing system. Some changes must be made and we may even reach a modification of the validation system itself,” he said characteristically.
Final stretch for Kalamaria: line closure and February 2026 in the spotlight
“The final goal for delivering the Kalamaria metro extension to users remains February 2026,” Mr. Tachiaos clarified, and answering a question about how many times and when the main line will “close,” he said: “We are waiting for the integrator studies, the company that has undertaken to coordinate all the contracts between them in Kalamaria and the main line with it, and then we will announce officially and accurately whether this will happen once or twice and for how long.”
