Crete's BOAK highway sees massive traffic jams during upgrade works

A video posted by a user shows severe congestion on the Northern Road Axis of Crete (BOAK) as extensive road upgrades continue. Vehicles line up for kilometres, turning a short trip into a two‑hour ordeal. Drivers are trapped on a narrow temporary lane with speed limits reduced to 50‑60 km/h amid large piles of soil, rocks and heavy machinery.

The project, funded by the Greek Recovery Fund, has a €157 million contract signed on 5 September 2022, originally set to finish by 5 September 2025. Extensions and compensation of over €20 million have been approved. The first 10.2 km (about 70 % of the segment) is slated for completion this summer, adding two traffic lanes and an emergency lane per direction, widening the carriageway to 22.5 m. New 24‑hour traffic rules apply between 26 June and 22 August 2026 on the affected stretch.