The Council of State (CoS) has temporarily halted construction of the Flyover at the Thessaloniki Ring road [1], [2], [3], in response to appeals from the Constantinopouli Residents Association, the Sheikh Sou Protection Association, and the Thessaloniki Runners Association.
The temporary suspension remains in effect until a decision is reached on the request for injunctive measures filed by residents at the Council of State. The case is scheduled to be heard on April 17th.
According to the associations’ claims, the drilling conducted as part of the project will strain the ecosystem and escalate the risk of flooding. Moreover, the neighboring Sheikh Su Forest has a heightened fire danger. Following the demolition of the bridges linking the city to the forest, the fire brigade will encounter challenges accessing the area in case of a fire.
The aerial highway, known as the flyover, is expected to be completed by 2027. However, its construction has already exacerbated the city’s traffic congestion.
The Ministry of Infrastructure maintains that the appeals hinder the project’s progress and intensify the residents’ suffering. The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Nikos Tahiaos, stressed that he would “respect the decision of the Court.”
The project, aimed at alleviating the city’s traffic congestion, has resulted in heavy congestion on the city’s central streets. Reports indicate that residents are concerned their struggles will continue beyond the scheduled completion in 2027, citing previous experiences with significant projects such as the metro and submarine artery, where timelines still need to be met.
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