Heraklion BOAK bypass advances with most infrastructure proposals approved

Wednesday, 13 May 2026/Source: Flashnews/1 min read

At the ET Forum Heraklion 2023, Heraklion Mayor Alexis Kalokerinos addressed the city's infrastructure priorities, highlighting progress on the long-awaited Heraklion bypass section of the BOAK highway, the east-west motorway crossing Crete. The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport confirmed that the vast majority of proposals submitted by the Municipality of Heraklion for works on this bypass have been accepted. For visitors, this is relevant news: the BOAK bypass aims to reduce heavy traffic passing through central Heraklion, which currently creates congestion on routes connecting the airport, port, and city center. Once completed, travel times between eastern and western Crete are expected to improve significantly. Construction timelines were not specified, so travelers should plan for existing road conditions when driving across the island. Check local traffic updates before departing Heraklion toward Agios Nikolaos or Rethymno.