Athena in Aghia Paraskevi
Athena, the tunnel boring machine (TBM) which is excavating the tunnel extending Line 3 of the Metro from Ethniki Amyna to Doukissis Plakentias and Stavros is due to reach Aghia Paraskevi this week. And the foundations will soon go into place for Aegaleo station (Estavromenou Square) and Votanikos station (in the square bounded by Iachou, Persefonis, Constantinoupoleos and Voutadon), which are on the western extension of Line 3 from Monastiraki to Aegaleo. When the TBM – which is moving from Doukissis Plakentias to Ethniki Amyna – reaches Aghia Paraskevi, it will have dug about 40 percent of the 3.4-kilometer tunnel. Athena has crossed Halandriou and Aghia Paraskevi avenues. It will pass in front of the Mint (Nomismatokopeio) and cross Mesogeion to Xanthou, where the exit shaft for the TBM will be built. According to the Metro schedule, all the civil engineering work should be completed by May 2003, when the electricians start work. A year later, in June 2004, the Ethniki Amyna-Doukissis Plakentias section of the line should be ready for use. The following completion dates apply to the rest of the Metro project: -December 2002: The Syntagma-Monastiraki section will be ready. -June 2004: In addition to Ethniki Amyna-Doukissis Plakentias-Stavros sections, the Sepolia-Aghios Antonios and Dafni-Ilioupoleos extensions to the Sepolia-Dafni line are due for completion. -June 2005: The Monastiraki-Aegaleo section, including Votanikos, Aghios Savvas and Aegaleo stations will be finished. -June 2006: The intermediary stations of Aghia Paraskevi, Nomismatokopeio and Holargos on the Ethniki Amyna-Stavros extension will be ready. -December 2006: Completion of extensions to Peristeri and Thivon.
