136 km of the Central Greece Motorway – E65 in traffic

New sections of the Central Greece Motorway – E65, constructed by TERNA, were put into traffic, in the presence of the Prime Minister, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Mr. Christos Staikouras and the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Mr. Nikos Tahiaou.

With the delivery of the new sections of the E65, 136 km of modern and safe highway are in traffic, from I/K to the A.Th.E. at 206.5 km (start of E65) up to A/K Kalambakas, through which the journey Athens – Karditsa now takes 2 hours and 35 minutes, while Athens – Trikala, less than 3 hours. In addition, important tourist destinations such as Meteora and Lake Plastira are now accessible, quickly, easily and safely.

With its completion, the E65 motorway will reform road transport to Western Thessaly and Western Macedonia, boosting trade, tourism and agricultural production. The E65 will connect the port of Igoumenitsa – which acts as Greece’s gateway to Central Europe – with the port of Volos, facilitate international passenger and freight transport from Greece to Western and Central Europe and offer an alternative route, which is shorter than the existing one.

At the same time, the total journey from the port of Piraeus to the Western Balkans will be reduced by approximately 2 hours, while with the E65 the journey from Lamia to Egnatia Odos will last only 1 hour and 45 minutes, the distance Athens-Grevena and Athens-Metsovo will be reduced to just 4 hours and the transition to Kastoria and Kozani will take place within 4.5 hours.

It is recalled that the E65 highway has a length of 182.1 km and is one of the most important national projects, with a total budget of approximately 1.397 billion euros. It has the necessary capacity of a modern 2-lane highway in each direction, plus an Emergency Lane, and is being built entirely on a new alignment connecting Eastern and Western Greece.

Under construction by TERNA, are the last 46 km of the highway that will start from A/K Kalambakas and will reach Egnatia Odos, west of Grevena. For their construction, 2 central and 2 supporting facilities operate with 780 personnel and 440 project machines and trucks.

On the 136 km that are now in traffic, the road safety services of the Central Road will be provided, as always, such as:

• 24-hour Road Safety Patrol
• 4-digit 24-hour Emergency number, 1075
• Free Roadside Assistance in cases of stoppage
• Telephone Customer Service at 801 700 7000

The technical characteristics of these 136 km built by TERNA include:

• 11 Uneven Interchanges (Gorgopotamou, Karpenisiou, Xyniada, Anavra, Sofadon, Karditsa, Proastiou, Trikala, Vasiliki and Kalambaka) & 4 Semi-interchanges (A.TH.E Anthilis, Smokovo and Loggou)
• 3 twin tunnels, with the largest being Tunnel T2, 3 km long (Othryos mountain range, Moschokaria)
• 31 Bridges, the most important of which is the 595 m long Pinios Bridge.
• 27 Upper Passes & 41 Lower Passes
• 5 bilateral Parking & Rest Areas (H.S.A.)
• 3 Control & Maintenance Centers (CMS) & 1 Traffic Management Center & 1 Tunnel Service Center
• 3 Traffic Police buildings and 1 Fire Department building
• 3 Motorist Service Stations (SEA – Lianokladiou, Sofadon and Raxas). It is noted that currently only the SOFAS of Sofadon is in operation.
• 1 Customer Service Point (Front Trikala Toll Station
• 3 Front Toll Stations (Lianokladi, Sofadon and Trikala) & 4 Side Toll Stations (Anavras, Proastiou, Trikala and Kalambakas). From midnight on Tuesday, April 23 to Wednesday, April 24, the operation of the new Lianokladi front station and the side Trikala and Kalambaka stations will begin. The prices of the toll fees for the new stations as well as the Trikala frontage are:

• Category 1: bicycles, tricycles, Category 2: Vehicles with or without trailer and height up to 2.20 m., Category 3: Vehicles with 2-3 axes with the without trailer and height above from 2.20 m., Category 4: Vehicles with 4 the more axes with the without trailer and height from 2.20 m.

During the handover ceremony the Prime Minister, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis he emphasized that: “Today is indeed a great day for Central Greece, for Thessaly, for Western Macedonia, for Epirus, as we are now handing over to traffic the largest part of a very important road. And I know very well, especially for Western Thessaly, for Trikala, for Karditsa, for Kalambaka, how important this road is and how it was actually a dream of many decades to finally be completed. Two and a half hours to go from Athens to Karditsa, three hours to go to Trikala. Accessibility for such a beautiful but also such a tested part of our homeland, Western Thessaly. And of course, the prospects for the connection, as we said, with the completion of the project, with Western Macedonia, with Epirus. A road of truly enormous developmental importance.”

THE Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Mr. Christos Staikouras noted that the E65 highway “facilitates access abroad, as the modern highway is connected, through the Egnatia Road and its vertical axes, to the outside world”, adding that “we assure that we will continue in the same direction, with speed, responsibility and methodical, so that, with a sense of responsibility, we contribute to the all-round strengthening of our Homeland”.

THE Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Mr. Nikos Tachiaos, stated that: “E65 will be a ‘growth fuse’ for areas recently tested by theomen. During this year’s festivities, Easter travelers heading towards Fthiotida and Western Thessaly (in the mountains of Karditsa of Trikala on Lake Plastira) will be able to travel on these new sections of the highway with greater comfort and safety.”

THE President and CEO of GEK TERNA Group, Mr. Giorgos Peristeris noted: “The Central Greece E65 motorway was designed from the beginning to complement a motorway network, which offered alternative routes. It is the most economical, fast and efficient road, so that someone can come from the west-northwest, central Macedonia or from central Greece to Athens and vice versa. Today, the entire southern section and a significant part of the northern section are handed over to traffic. We will do everything we can, as we always do, to speed up the delivery of the northern section as well. We hope that next year it will be completed to its end, which is the point where it meets the northwestern part of Egnatia.”