The reason for the Heliopolis tunnel. A tunnel about three kilometers long, with three lanes in each direction, which will start at Katehaki and end at Vouliagmeni Avenue. Its construction will allow drivers to cover the route from Karea to Elliniko within ten minutes, when today this time reaches and exceeds thirty minutes during rush hours.

The project is essentially an extension of Attiki Odos and in particular the Western Regional Ymittos, is part of the wider plan to create a traffic light-free ring road and will give a new dimension to the north-south axis. Vouliagmenis, currently choked with traffic, will acquire motorway characteristics and access to Elliniko, where the major urban redevelopment with tens of thousands of future visitors is underway, will become faster and safer. At the same time, an expressway grid will be created that will connect Attiki Odos, Kifissos, the Ilioupolis Tunnel and Vouliagmeni, effectively serving through traffic.

The cost of the project is estimated at around €500 million, and this is precisely where the biggest obstacle lies. Although studies have progressed, with significant funding from the private sector, securing the necessary resources remains uncertain. The Ministry of Infrastructure’s plan is to include the project in a single tender through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). If this is set in motion in 2025, construction could begin in 2026 and be completed by the end of the decade. However, recent statements by the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure dealt a blow to expectations, as he noted that the project is unlikely to move forward in the near term due to its high cost and the lack of state funding.

This uncertainty has sparked reactions at the local level. The municipalities of Vyronas, Ilioupoli, and Elliniko-Argyroupoli sent a letter to the Prime Minister requesting clarification on the exact timeline and progress of the study, stressing that this is a project of vital importance for citizens’ daily lives. Lamda Development, for its part, has pledged to continue funding the preparatory studies so that the momentum already created is not lost. On the other hand, transport experts express concern that the proposed alignment primarily benefits Elliniko and a limited portion of the population, arguing that a more ring-shaped approach should be considered in order to serve a wider area of Attica.

What is certain is that the Ilioupoli Tunnel is not a simple project, but one that could transform the cityscape and create a new network of fast, traffic-light-free roads — something Athens needs more than ever. Its realization depends entirely on political will and the ability to secure financing. If decisions are made soon, the project could start within the next two years and be completed by 2030, significantly improving the daily lives of hundreds of thousands of citizens. If not, it risks remaining yet another grand announcement that never became reality.