After a long period of controversy, suspension of works and intense processes, the new design of the projects in Akamas seeks to provide definitive answers to chronic problems in the area, such as the uncontrolled movement of vehicles, dust and noise, the degradation of protected habitats, the inadequate fire protection and the inadequate organization of traffic.
The central philosophy of the revision, which emerged after decisions of the Council of Ministers and the relevant Compliance Report of the Environmental Authority (August 2025), is the drastic reduction of human interventions and the substantial reduction of the environmental footprint of projects.
The project of strategic importance is restarting, with a horizon of completion of Phase A of the road network in 2027. Already, the staffing of the Park Guard Service with 16 people is a fact, while within the third and fourth quarters of 2026 the start of construction projects and the announcement of new tenders for recreational infrastructure are expected.
The improvement and upgrading of the road network will be implemented in three phases. Phase A concerns the reconstruction of the road in the area of Aspros - Lara River, while Phases B and C mainly concern mild maintenance and improvement interventions of the rest of the forest road network, with a total length of approximately 51 km.
Phase A of the road network concerns approximately 9.9 km. existing network, in the areas of Aspros Potamos – Toxeftra – Lara and Toxeftra – Avakas, as well as the Lara ring road. The goal is to start construction work within the last quarter of 2026 and complete the project by the end of 2027.
Phase B concerns the improvement of existing forest roads with a total length of approximately 25.9 km. and specifically the existing forest roads: (a) Lara – Koudounas – Koutsagas – Smigies – Ai Minas, (b) Koutsagas – Tzifin and (c) Aspros Potamos – Moundiko, with the aim of safe access, strengthening fire protection and forest management, as well as preserving the natural character of the area. The required studies will begin within the 4th quarter, 2026, while the maintenance and improvement works will be implemented gradually, after the necessary approvals, with the aim of completing the phase by the end of 2028.
Phase C will be implemented in parallel and according to the standards of Phase B, and this includes roads within the core of the state forest, with a total length of approximately 25.7 km. With regard to the section of the Aphrodite Baths – Fontana Amoroza road in particular, it is pointed out that with the approval given by the Environmental Authority in April 2026, the process of starting works to improve this section will be promoted with the aim of ensuring safety in access and movement. The intervention in this section of the road concerns the widening of 13 points of the road and a total length of 430m.
It is also planned to announce a tender for the provision of the necessary services for the movement of visitors with park vehicles during peak periods, with the aim of decongesting traffic, the safe movement of visitors and limiting the uncontrolled movement of vehicles.
What did the 2021 plan foresee and what is changing today
Comparing the 2021 decisions with the revised planning reveals a shift towards a clearly softer and controlled management.
>> Information and recreation infrastructure (hubs): The 2021 plan provided for the creation of a total of 14 information and recreation hubs, with extensive infrastructure affecting large areas of land. In the revised design, the nodes are reduced to 8. Within the 4th quarter of 2026, a tender will be announced for their redesign
>> Lara South Interchange: The 2021 plan provided for the construction of an interchange and the installation of technical services in this sensitive area. Today, a new design with a significantly smaller environmental footprint is being promoted.
>> General road network philosophy: The 2021 design provided for extensive interventions with geometric characteristics (width, alignments) that resembled an urban road network, with provision for a single implementation of the projects. The revised design adopts a phased implementation approach, with significantly smaller cross-sections on the roads.
>> Phase A of the road network (Aspros Potamos – Toxeftra – Lara & Toxeftra – Avakas): In 2021, the road design was based on the standards of the Department of Public Works (TDE). In the revised design, the original solution is not rejected, but is modified and specified by department. Construction work is expected to begin in the last quarter of 2026 with the goal of delivery at the end of 2027.
>> Redesign of the Avakas – Lipati road section: The 2021 plan provided for the implementation of the general road construction standards of the TDE, which caused intense and visible interventions in the natural landscape. In the revised design, a complete re-evaluation is carried out with the aim of affecting the existing route and the geometric characteristics of the road as little as possible.
>> Phases B and C of the road network (remaining forest network ~51 km): In 2021, extensive improvements were planned, which, however, attempted to keep up with the protection needs. Today, Phase B (~25.9 km) and Phase C (~25.7 km within the core of the state forest) will include exclusively mild maintenance interventions and smaller cross-sections. It is forbidden to park vehicles on the road, except for a few places for firefighting needs. Studies for Phase B begin in the 4th quarter of 2026 with a completion horizon of 2028.
>> Hydraulic works and retaining walls: The 2021 design was based solely on the initial technical data provided. Today, a new study and a complete review of rainwater management projects (bridges) and retaining walls are being carried out. A relevant tender for the area of Avakas is underway, which is expected to be completed at the end of August and beginning of September 2026.
>> Forest road construction experts: In 2021, there was no provision for the involvement of specialized consultants in this field. Now, the services of specialist scientists in forest road construction are officially ensured.
>> Park Guard: In 2021, the relevant provision remained on paper, as the Service had not been implemented or staffed. In the revised design, service plans were approved and staffing was fully completed. As of May 11, 2026, 16 park rangers have taken up official duties and are in the training stage to effectively supervise the park, crack down on illegal crossings, prevent fires, and upgrade visitor safety.
>> Rules of operation of the Akamas SAR: The rules had been drawn up and had been legally reviewed by the Legal Service in September 2021. Today, it is necessary to readjust them, so that they are fully harmonized with the new data. This process will be completed around 2027, immediately after the completion of Phase A.
>> Visitor traffic: In 2021, there was no provision or infrastructure for organized transportation. In the revised planning, a tender is planned for the assignment of visitor transportation services with special park vehicles during peak periods (May to October), a service that will be implemented after 2027 and the completion of the road network. >> Natural reserves and micro-reserves: In 2021 there was no provision for declaring protected natural reserves within the state forest. Today, for the first time in the history of the region, the declaration of part of the Akamas State Forest as a "Natural Reserve", as well as the creation of micro-reserves, is being promoted. The protected zone will cover an area of 741.13 hectares (ha), which corresponds to 12.7% of the forest, where all human activity, including hunting, will be prohibited. The proposal will be submitted to the Council of Ministers in the 4th quarter of 2026, following the opinion of the Forest Advisory Body.
