Heraklion Hotel Association warns of BOAK construction traffic issues

The Heraklion Hotel Association has issued a statement regarding the significant traffic issues caused by construction works on the BOAK (Northern Cretan Axis Highway). The association noted that kilometer-long queues and lengthy delays are occurring daily, particularly on the Heraklion–Chersonissos section.

While acknowledging that the new BOAK is a vital project for Crete, the association emphasized that construction should not paralyze one of the country’s most important tourism axes. They reported that travelers are risking missing flights due to unpredictable travel times to Heraklion Airport, and workers are facing additional commutes of up to 90 minutes.

Beyond economic impact, the association raised serious safety concerns, stating that congestion and bottlenecks could delay emergency vehicles, including ambulances, fire brigades, and police. They are calling for an immediate redesign of traffic management in cooperation with the Ministry of Infrastructure, regional authorities, and contractors to ensure Crete can continue to function during the construction process.