As of today, all 136 km, out of the 182.1 km, of the E65 motorway (Central Greece) from the National Road (A.T.E. 206.5 km) to the uneven junction (A/K) Kalambakas.
The sections Lamia – Xyniada and Trikala – Kalambaka will join the “blind” section of the highway (Xyniada – Trikala). On the E 65, the average daily traffic is estimated at between 9,000 and 10,000 vehicles. The route from the entrance of the E65 at the semi-junction of the national road to Kalbaka will cost 8.20 euros for a car, as only one frontal toll station will be added in Lianokladi. (the frontal stations of Sofados and Trikala are already operating).
THE E65 which will connect A.TH.E. with Egnatia Odos (near Greveni) project with a total budget of 1.397 billion euroswill be completed within 2026 by the concessionaire and construction company TERNA (the northern part from Kalambaka to Egnatia Odos remains), of the GEK TERNA group which manages, operates and maintains the said road concession contract.
The concession project of the Central Greece Motorway – E65 concerns the construction of the highway of the same name, from a semi-interchange with the existing highway A.Th.E. (at 206.5 km) to the uneven junction with Egnatia Odos (near Grevena), as well as in the maintenance, operation and management of the section of the A.Th.E. motorway. from Scarfeia to Rahes Fthiotida.
Today, the middle section of the highway in question is in operation from the Xyniada junction to the Trikala junction, as well as the section from the semi-junction on the National Highway to the Karpenisi junction and the section from Karpenisi plateau to Xiniada plateau and from Trikala plateau to Kalambaka plateau will be put into traffic.
How it is reshaping road transport
With its completion the E65 motorway, will reform road transport to Western Thessaly and Western Macedoniagiving a boost to trade, tourism and agricultural production.
With the E65, the port of Igoumenitsa will be connected – which acts as Greece’s gateway to Central Europe- with the port of Volos, international passenger and freight transport from Greece to Western and Central Europe will be facilitated and an alternative route will be offered, 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.
In addition, the highway will contribute the most to the national strategic plan for de-lignitization of Western Macedonia and its transition to a sustainable development. As an example, it is worth mentioning that with the E65 the journey from Lamia to Egnatia Odos will take just 1 hour and 45 minutes, the distance between Athens-Grevena and Athens-Metsovo will be reduced to just 4 hours and the journey to Kastoria and Kozani it will be a 4.5 hour affair.
The E65 has the necessary capacity, one modern 2-lane highway in each direction plus Emergency Lane and is being built entirely on a new layout connecting Eastern and Western Greece.
With the delivery of the new parts of the E65, they are in circulation 136 km of modern, safe motorway, from H/K with the highway A.TH.E. (206.5 km) up to A/K Kalambakas. Important tourist destinations such as Meteora, Lake Plastira, Karpenisi, Trikala are now accessible, quickly, easily and safely, while a new development dynamic will be given to the core of the country.
The technical characteristics of the parts that “go” into circulation
The technical characteristics of these 136 km built by TERNA include the following:
- 11 Unlevel 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 longer Tunnel T2, 3 km long (Othrios 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). ONLY the SOFAS of Sofadon are in operation
- 1 Customer Service Point (Front Trikala Toll Station, road to Lamia)
- 3 Front Toll Stations (Lianokladi, Sofadon and Trikala) & 4 Side Toll Stations (Anavras, Proastiou, Trikala and Kalambakas)
It is worth mentioning here that the frontal stations that a driver who will enter the E65 from the ATHE highway and reach Kalambaka, i.e. he will travel all 136 km, will pass are the following three: Lianokladiou at 17.1 km, Sofadon at 66.2 km and Trikala at 105.7 km. Prices for cars will be €1.85, €3.40 and €2.95 respectively. Total: €8.2 for 136 km. In the future, and with the entire E65 in circulation, another frontal station will operate in Oxyneia at 151.9 km.
We remind you that under construction by TERNA, are the last 46 km of the highway which will start from A/K Kalambakas and will reach up to Egnatia Odos west of Greveni. For their construction, 2 central and 2 supporting facilities operate with 780 personnel and 440 project machines and trucks.
Technical characteristics of E65 highway in total
- 182.1 km
- 14 Uneven Knots & 2 Half Knots
- 4 twin tunnels and 1 single branch tunnel (T2 tunnel 3 km long – Othrios mountain range, Moschokaria, T3A tunnel 113m long – Lake Smokovo, Loutra Kaitsa, Tunnel T3 387m long – Lake Smokovo, Loutra Kaitsa, Single branch tunnel 65m long – Kastraki Kalambakas, 400m long tunnel at 175+660 – Levidia – Emilianos)
- 48 Bridges, of which 35 are over 50 m long
- 33 Upper Passes & 76 Lower Passes
- 291 Box-shaped culverts and Fauna Passages
- 5 bilateral Parking & Rest Areas (H.S.A.)
- 4 Front Toll Stations (MSD) and 5 Side Toll Stations (PSD)
- 4 bilateral Motorist Service Stations (SEA)
- 4 Control & Maintenance Centers (K.E.S.)
- 2 Traffic Management Centers & 4 Tunnel Service Centers
- 2 Traffic Police buildings and 1 Fire Department building
Northern Section (A/C Trikala – A/C Egnatia)
It is 70.5 km in total length, the first 25 km up to Kalambakas A/C are open to traffic. For the construction of the remaining Northern section of the E65, the following facilities have been set up and are operating:
- Central facility, Vasiliki area (122.8 km)
- Supported facility, Mykani area (144.5 km)
- Central facility, Pigaditsa area (179.1 km.)
- Support facility, Agiofyllos area (161 km.)
Technical Characteristics of the Northern Section (Subdivision of Trikala A/C – Kalambakas A/C – DELIVERED INTO CIRCULATION):
- 3 Bridges
- 5 Upper & 13 Lower Crossings
- 1 double-sided Parking & Rest Area (Parking & WC)
- 36 Box-shaped Culverts and Fauna Crossings
- 3 Uneven Junctions (Trikala, Vasiliki, Kalambaka)
- 1 Motorist Service Station (SEA Raxa Trikala)
- 2 Side Toll Stations (Trikala A/C, Kalambakas A/C))
- 1 Control & Maintenance Center (Trikala)
- 1 Traffic Building
What is the tunnel that penetrates the mountain mass of Othrios
About X.Th. : 26+800 of the E65 Motorway, the T2 tunnel is placed. It’s about twin tunnel with a length of three km per branch. The horizontal layout of the project is such that its entrance is to the south and its exit is to the north. The axial distance of the two branches is typically 65m, with a joint section at the beginning and end, where the distance varies from 35m to 65m.
The height of the overlying soil ranges from ~80m to ~280m. Eight (8) connecting galleries are provided between the two branches, six (6) to serve pedestrians and two (2) to serve vehicles. In the connecting galleries of the vehicles, a widening of the standard cross-section on the main tunnel for a length of 50m., which operates up to an emergency parking area, is foreseen. The width of the tunnel is 11.00 m, while the typical cross-section consists of two traffic lanes per branch of 3.75 m width. The clear clear height of the tunnel (traffic gauge) is 5.00 m.
This is a tunnel that penetrates the mountainous mass of Othrios through concreted areas with intense water flow. The tunnel is equipped with all the modern security and traffic management systems. In order for it to function properly, two have been built control centers, one at the entrance and one at the exit of the tunnel. All systems through a fiber optic network have been integrated and are displayed in the central control system of the highway located in Sofades.
In case, for any reason, the communication between the tunnel and the command center in Sofades is lost, there is the ability to monitor and control the tunnel from the local center located at the entrance of the T2 tunnel. Also in both the control building located at the entrance of the tunnel and the one located at the exit, there are generators capable of ensuring the tunnel’s power supply under full load for 24 hours. The T2 tunnel has been licensed for use by the Tunnel Administration (T.A.S.)
In addition to the above, the following tunnel control and management systems have also been installed:
- Fire extinguishing system: Both branches are equipped with a fire extinguishing network supplied by a tank located at the exit of the tunnel. Per 36m. there is a fire pit with fire extinguishers as well as a faucet connected to the above network
- Smoke-exhaust ventilation system: Sensors have been placed along the tunnel in both branches, which detect the air quality and the presence of smoke. In each of these cases, the ceiling fans required to remove dirt and/or smoke are activated accordingly.
- Camera system equipped with an automatic event detection system : Cameras have been installed along the tunnel which, in addition to monitoring traffic, are equipped with appropriate software that detects any unusual event and activates automatic response scenarios.
- Lighting system automatically adjustable for day and night operation.
- RDS system: Throughout the length of the tunnel, the uninterrupted broadcast of radio stations has been ensured, so that in case of danger there is the possibility of transmitting messages to the users.
- Public address system to inform/warn users
