A metro that digs into history: significant archeological discoveries to be displayed in a station-museum

The final testing phases are underway for the 10-kilometre line, featuring 13 stations.

These archaeological excavations are the largest ever conducted in the city, covering an area of 30,000 square meters and leading to the discovery of the ancient Roman road, the “decumanus maximus”.

Milan, November 5, 2024 – Final touches are underway ahead of the inauguration on November 30 for the new Thessaloniki metro line, built in Greece by Webuild in a joint venture. The project is based on the city’s first automated underground line and has been marked by significant engineering complexities: excavation work was carried out in Thessaloniki’s most densely populated and congested area, which led to the discovery and preservation of archaeological treasures that reflect the city’s rich history. 

The 10-kilometre line includes 13 new stations and was largely excavated using two Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs). Thessaloniki’s project exemplifies an infrastructure site deeply interconnected with urban development, city planning, and, at the same time, with the history and archaeology of the area – similar to Milan's M4 Line and Rome's Metro C.

To ensure the preservation, recovery, and enhancement of artefacts, the tunnels of the Greek metro were constructed at an average depth of 20 metres. Some stations were redesigned during construction to allow artefacts to remain in their original location, as in the case of Demokratias Station, which was shifted 10 metres to position the remains above a Byzantine-era wall uncovered during excavation. The archaeological excavations, the largest ever conducted in the city, covered an area of 30,000 square metres, leading to the discovery of numerous marble slabs from the renowned Roman road known as the Decumanus Maximus.

The Thessaloniki Metro, built for Elliniko Metro in partnership with a consortium that includes Italy’s Hitachi and Greece’s Aktor, is expected to transport 315,000 passengers per day, with train frequencies of 90 seconds during peak hours. Once operational, it is estimated to help prevent 77,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year, thanks to a reduction of approximately 60.000 vehicles on the roads each day. 

Webuild has a longstanding presence in Greece, dating back to the 1950s. In the sustainable mobility sector, the Group has contributed to the extension of Athens Metro Line 3 between Monastiraki and Egaleo and, earlier, to the development of the city’s tram system in preparation for the 2004 Olympic Games. In Greece, Webuild also completed one of its most iconic projects, the Stavros Niarcos Foundation Cultural Center, which houses the National Library with over 2 million volumes and the Greek National Opera. Designed by the Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW), this project combines art with technical excellence, and one of the most evident examples of this synergy is the Canopy, a suspended shell covering 10,000 square metres that overlooks the structure. 

The Thessaloniki Metro is part of the Group's track record, which includes the construction of approximately 850 kilometres of metro lines worldwide, including Line 4 of the Milan Metro and some of the most beautiful Art Stations of the Naples Metro, including the award-winning Università and Toledo stations. In Italy, the Group is currently constructing Rome’s Metro Line C, as well as the Capodicihino Station on Line 1 and the Monte Sant'Angelo station on the Monte Sant’Angelo branch in Naples. The Group is also active abroad, in the Grand Paris Express, which includes the recently awarded Line 15 West and the ongoing completion of Lot 2 of Line 16.

from Webuild.