Project
Background and history
The partnership between Road Infrastructure Agency and Egnatia Odos SA has been
established over the previous programming period with the successful implementation
of the AccessNet project, which was co-financed by the ERDF through the European
Territorial Cooperation Programme Greece Bulgaria 2007-2013. The project CrossBo
has been developed in close cooperation with all partners valorizing the outputs
of AccessNet project in order to improve further the accessibility and mobility
between the two countries. Therefore, the project idea underlies the necessity of
creating new and upgrading old road infrastructure networks.
The project CrossBo
The project ‘Aiming at Improving Cross - Border Accessibility / CrossBo’, is a strategic
project funded by the Interreg V-A Cross Border Cooperation Programme Greece – Bulgaria
2014-2020, which is co-financed by the European Union under the European Regional
Development Fund. The Interreg V-A programme is the most appropriate financial instrument
for combating the insufficient quality of road infrastructures in the cross border
area that are challenging the accessibility and mobility of the population of the
two countries.
The main project objective is the improvement and development of the cross-border
infrastructure for better connection to - Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T
network), thus contributing to the overall strategic goal of the programme. In particular,
the project will increase the mobility and accessibility in the cross border area
through the construction of a new cross border transport link to improve the operation
of the TEN-T axis Plovdiv-Smolyan-Rudozem-Xanthi and the existing transport network
in the cross border area. The complete operation of a transport system between Greece
and Bulgaria is expected to strengthen the direct access, the cross-border mobility,
the easy and safe circulation of goods, services and people in the cross border
area as well as the economic development, cohesion and cooperation in both countries.
More precisely, it is expected that the construction and operation of the new Border
Crossing Check Point Dimario -Rudozem and the new access road as well as the improvement
of the existing cross border transport infrastructures will ensure more efficient
access to Greek summer resorts and to ski resorts in Pamporovo while at the same
time will also favorite the development of joint tourist packages thus enhancing
accessibility, mobility and communication between people on both sides of the border.
The project is divided into 4 major sub-projects and is funded with a total budget
of 38.802.558,00 €, of which 85% is funded by the ERDF and 15% by national funds
of Greece and Bulgaria.
Partners
The project is implemented by three partners from Greece and Bulgaria.
From the Greek side Egnatia Odos SA (Greece) participates as the Lead Beneficiary
of the project and is responsible for the overall management and coordination of
the project. From the Bulgarian side, the Road Infrastructure Agency and the Regional
Administration of Smolyan participate as Project Beneficiaries 1 and 2 respectively.
The project duration has been extended up to the end of year 2023.