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In 1927, Ioannis Metaxas,
as Minister of Transport, brought two bills to Parliament in regards to road construction. This was the largest technical project to be carried out during the Interwar period. The contractor, Pafsanias Makris, who was also the representative of Shell
in Greece, was awarded the construction of 2,535 kilometers of national highways, 2,170 km of which were new roads. The cost per km far exceeded the budget, and Makris’ contract was amended in 1931 and terminated in 1934. By 1932, 250 km of roads had been built, while only 120 km were open for transport. The layout of Syggrou Avenue started in 1901 and Nikolaos Gazis – law engineer, General Manager of Technical Services and Works of Athens, and professor at the Hellenic Naval Academy - was commissioned to develop the project. Syggrou Avenue was initially paved from the Hadrian’s Gate until Palaio Faliro. Constructions lasted 3 years and the project
was completed in 1904. Syggrou Avenue rendered as a symbol of modernism that complied with European standards.
©Palaio Faliro - Syggrou Nikos Politis Archive
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