THESSALONIKI METRO – A new relationship is established between Thessaloniki Metro and the city of Thessaloniki and its various Municipal and private organizations

A new Relationship is established between Thessaloniki Metro and the city of Thessaloniki in the framework of a five-year strategic plan for co-operation with local organizations and associations.

The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Mr. Yiannis Magriotis announced and presented this collective effort, stating the following: “ Following the complete re-organization of the Project, it is high time for it to become part of the city, as it is also time for the city to embrace and support this major project, which has only enormous benefits to offer to the quality of the daily lives of the citizens, as well as to the development of the urban complex which, initially, in the next four years and, gradually, in a ten-year horizon is hoped to operate according to principles befitting any major European city”.

The Deputy Minister made this statement as soon as the meeting was completed, whose participants were, among others, representatives of the Local Authorities, the city’s entrepreneurs, the technical and University communities, the Union leaders, as well as all agencies of the Ministry of Culture, who are directly involved in the progress of the project.

The items included in the agenda of that meeting were the following:

a) Stressing the importance of the Metro Project as the largest public project currently constructed in Greece, as well as its importance to the city function, with the objective of promoting it at an international level.
b) Revealing and display of the rich archaeological artefacts and cultural values, which give a testimony of the 23 centuries of the city’s history.
c) The co-operation between the various collective bodies and private citizens in order to resolve the problems emerging during the Metro construction.

Today’s meeting was the result of the initiatives undertaken by the new Management of ATTIKO METRO (AM) and the Thessaloniki Metro Projects Department aiming at establishing channels of communication and constant co-operation with the city’s agencies.

The meeting was preceded by sessions with the Management of the Thessaloniki Trade Association, the Commercial and Industrial Chamber, the Thessaloniki University, the Thessaloniki Municipality, as well as by a meeting attended by Ms. L. Mendoni, General Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, and the Heads of the 16th and 9th Departments of Antiquities, in order to expedite even more the excavation works and to discuss the methods of revealing the very important archaeological finds.

Mr. Magriotis said: “The Metro is not just a major technical project, is not just a basic transport infrastructure, but it proves to be a significant cultural project as well, in the sense that it surfaces the history of our city, unbroken in the passage of many centuries, through very rich and significant archaeological finds”.

Common Action Plan

During the press conference, the common actions planned by Thessaloniki Metro and the city’s agencies were presented. We have to stress here that the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks had announced the establishment of a Committee of Co-operation with Thessaloniki Municipality and the subsequent establishment of a second wider Committee attended by all Municipalities served by the Metro network either the Base line or the extensions.

In particular, in the framework of the Christmas celebrations, Thessaloniki Metro shall implement in co-operation with the city’s Trade Association actions to revitalize the market, such as the creation of two outdoor photography expositions displaying archaeological finds revealed during the excavations at the main worksites.

In addition, various happenings are scheduled, the worksites shall be decorated in the Christmas spirit, and other activities are also planned, such as training activities, aiming at bring the Metro close to sensitive social groups.

Subsequently, Mr. Magriotis made reference to actions discussed with Thessaloniki University, such as the establishment of a joint committee, assigned with the preparation of a preliminary study for the creation of parking areas, in the framework of the Memorandum signed between AM and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

In the framework of this new relationship between the Metro and the city, the close co-operation with Thessaloniki Municipality is expected in matters related to the Culture, the Environment, the Education and the Social Policy, as well as the facilitation of the Metro works in areas which are properties of the Municipality.

This meeting that took place in the premises of Thessaloniki Metro was attended by representatives of the following agencies: Municipality of Thessaloniki, EBEΘ, EEΘ, ΒΕΘ, ΤΕΕ/ΤΚΜ, ΟΡΘΕ, ΣΑΣΘ, Trade Association, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, International Fair of Thessaloniki, ΕΔΟΘ and ΕΚΘ., while on behalf of ATTIKO METRO S.A. the meeting was attended by Mr. Konstantinos Zervas, BoD member, and by Mr. Georgios Konstantinidis, Manager of Thessaloniki Metro Projects Department.

Α. CONTRACTUAL PROJECT DATA

Β. PROGRESS OF THE PROJECT (UNTIL 30/11/2010)

Ι) STATIONS

1. NEW RAILWAY STATION

• The following works have been completed: PUO network diversions, diaphragm walls and traffic diversions phases Α’ and Β’.
• The following works are in progress: Station excavation works, concreting of the roof slab and slab of level (-1), construction of accesses, as well as archaeological investigation.

2. DIMOKRATIAS

• The following works have been completed: PUO network diversions, diaphragm walls and traffic diversions phases Α’ and Β’.
• The following works are in progress: archaeological investigation at the south part of the station.

3. VENIZELOU

• The following works have been completed: PUO network diversions, diaphragm walls and traffic diversions phases Α’ and Β’.
• The following works are in progress: archaeological investigation at the north part of the station, while it is partially completed at its south part.

4. AGHIAS SOFIAS

• The following works have been completed: PUO network diversions, diaphragm walls and traffic diversions phases Α’ and Β’.
• The following works are in progress: archaeological investigation at the north part of the station.

5. SINTRIVANI

• The following works have been completed: PUO network diversions, diaphragm walls and traffic diversions phases Α’ and Β’.
• The following works are in progress: archaeological investigation throughout the station.

6. PANEPISTIMIO

• The following works have been completed: PUO network diversions, archaeological investigations, diaphragm walls, traffic diversions phases Α’ and Β’, concerting of the station’s mezzanine slab as well as the roof and bottom slab of the circular shaft of the accesses.
• The following works are in progress: Station excavation works for concreting the slab of level (-1), concreting of the roof slab, works for the construction of accesses and ventilation shafts.

7. PAPAFI

• The following works have been completed: The preliminary works for the relocation of the 1st Ε.Ε.Ε.Ε.Κ. and the other structures located within the station area.
• The following works are in progress: The worksite occupation works, phase A’ traffic diversions and the construction of the guiding diaphragm walls. The Court decision related to the cutting of trees in order to ensure the smooth progress of the works in pending.

8. EFKLIDIS

• The following works have been completed: PUO network diversions, diaphragm walls, traffic diversions phases Α’ and Β’, concerting of the station’s mezzanine slabs at levels (-2) and (-3).
• The following works are at a completion phase: Concreting the mezzanine slab of level (-1).
• The following works are in progress: Station excavation works at foundation level (-4), concreting of the accesses at level (-1) and concreting of ventilation shaft walls from level (-1) up to the roof slab.

9. FLEMING

• The following works have been completed: PUO network diversions, diaphragm walls, traffic diversions phases Α’ and Β’, concerting of the roof slab at the station’s north part.
• The following works are in progress: Excavation works for the station, the accesses and the ventilation shafts, as well as concreting of roof slab at the remaining south part of the station.

10. ΑNALIPSI

• The following works have been completed: PUO network diversions, traffic diversion phase Α’ and installation of the trench cutting equipment in order to commence the construction of the diaphragm walls.
• The following works are in progress: the preliminary works, i.e. the construction of the guiding walls, traffic diversion phase B’ etc. in view of commencing the construction of the diaphragm walls.

11. PATRIKIOU

• The following works are in progress: PUO network diversions and traffic diversion phase Α’.

12. VOULGARI

• No work has been executed due to incomplete expropriations.

13. NEA HELVETIA

• No work has been executed due to incomplete expropriations.

ΙΙ) TUNNELS

1. ΤΒM TUNNEL

• South tunnel: Excavation and lining has been completed from the start shaft (K.P. 0+186,25) up to K.P. 4+012,00.
• North tunnel: Excavation and lining has been completed from the start shaft (K.P. 0+186,25) up to K.P. 3+590,00.

2. OPEN CUT TUNNEL FROM NEA HELVETIA TO THE DEPOT

• The following works are in progress: PUO network diversions.

ΙΙΙ) DEPOT

• There are buildings in the area, including the Thessaloniki Municipality Refuse Transfer station, whose removal procedure has not been completed.
• The following works are in progress: Procedures for the completion of expropriations.