Land Use Changes, Environmental Impact and Socio-Economic Effects of Road Infrastructure Mega Projects: The Combined Case of the Rio–Antirio Bridge and the Ionian Road in Greece

Dimitrios Kantianis (), Serafeim Polyzos and Thomas Krabokoukis
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Dimitrios Kantianis: Department of Business Administration, Business School, University of the Aegean, 82132 Chios, Greece
Serafeim Polyzos: Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, 38334 Volos, Greece
Thomas Krabokoukis: Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, 38334 Volos, Greece

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-24

Abstract: The research aims at studying land use changes, the environmental impact and socio-economic effects from the construction of major road transport infrastructure projects. The methodology adopted herein includes a review of the relevant literature to examine the relationship between infrastructure provision and associated positive or negative impacts on land, environment, society and economy. Statistical data mainly from the Hellenic Statistical Authority and useful informational data from relevant research and recent studies were collected and processed in order to evaluate the overall effect of the two major road projects Gefyra “Charilaos Trikoupis” (Rio–Antirio Bridge) and Ionia Odos (Ionian Road) in the Regions of Dytiki Ellada (Western Greece), Ipeiros (Epirus) and Ionioi Nisoi (Ionian Islands). The descriptive statistical analysis indicates that positive impacts include the following: transport time savings and road safety improvement; increased commercial imports/exports activity; increased private building activity and tourist traffic/employment; and intensified truck traffic at the port of Igoumenitsa. Conversely, negative impacts involve: less arable agricultural land; increased whilst tolerable environmental pollution; and a general reduction in all types of traffic activity at the port of Patras. From the quantitative analysis using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), it emerged that the most overall benefitted region is the Ionian Islands, followed by Epirus and Western Greece. The general conclusion from the research seems to support the theoretical approaches and related studies: transport infrastructure is an important condition but not a guarantee of regional development.

Keywords: infrastructure; land use; environment; socio-economic effects; AHP; Greece (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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