A major portion of the long-anticipated road upgrade linking Lefkada to the Aktio–Western Axis highway has officially opened to traffic, just in time for the August 15th holiday exodus.
The 10-kilometer segment between Aktio, Agios Nikolaos, and Lefkada was delivered ahead of schedule by Greek infrastructure group AKTOR, providing faster and safer access to the Ionian island and improving connectivity to the Aktio airport and the national road network.
Phase Two Underway: Agios Nikolaos–Vonitsa Segment
Work is progressing rapidly on the second section, the 6-kilometer Agios Nikolaos–Vonitsa stretch, which will complete the transportation loop between Lefkada and Western Central Greece. Simultaneously, construction continues on the new 8-kilometer Lefkada water pipeline, a critical infrastructure project designed to serve thousands of permanent residents and seasonal visitors.
A €48 Million Project of Strategic Importance
The project, with a total budget of €48 million, includes the construction and upgrading of two main road segments:
- Vonitsa–Lefkada (approx. 16 km)
- Aktio–Agios Nikolaos (approx. 5 km)
Depending on the section, the speed limits will be up to 90 km/h (Vonitsa–Lefkada) and 80 km/h (Aktio–Agios Nikolaos). The main carriageway features an 11-meter cross-section with one lane per direction, and the works either replace old roadways or upgrade existing segments.
Complex Engineering in a Protected Landscape
Despite technical and geological challenges, the project is progressing in full respect of the natural and archaeological environment. The route passes through protected areas of outstanding natural beauty and important archaeological sites.
The road infrastructure includes:
- 7 at-grade junctions (5 in Vonitsa–Lefkada, 2 in Aktio–Agios Nikolaos)
- Parallel service roads
- A new 33-meter bridge over the Cleopatra canal, connecting Lake Voulkaria with the Ionian Sea
- 2 underpasses and 83 box culverts for proper drainage and environmental integration
Upgrading Lefkada’s Water Infrastructure
The new 8-kilometer water pipeline, which is being constructed in parallel with the road works, is designed to replace the aging system installed in the 1980s. The modern pipeline is dimensioned to serve increased population needs for decades, supporting the island’s long-term residential and tourism growth.
AKTOR CEO: “We Delivered Earlier Than Promised”
AKTOR Group CEO Alexandros Exarchou praised the team’s effort and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to delivering complex public works under pressure:
“Reliability is our core value. Just two months ago, we promised Minister of Infrastructure Christos Dimas that we would open the road to Lefkada Airport by early August—even as we were wrapping up the Patras–Pyrgos motorway. It seemed nearly impossible, but today we delivered the Lefkada–Western Axis connection ahead of schedule.
Our teams worked tirelessly, and once again proved that major infrastructure projects can be catalysts for regional development. We are proud to be part of this progress.”
Source: pagenews.gr