Motorway E65: The new sections were delivered

It will be faster the departure of Easter excursions through Motorway of Central Greeceas were delivered on Tuesday, April 23 two new sectionsfrom the Lamia to Xyniada and from Trikala to Kalambaka.

These two pieces were “joined” with the section Xyniada – Trikalawhich were already in operation, resulting in them being in circulation 136 km of modern and safe highway, from H/K with the highway A.TH.E. at 206.5 km (beginning of E65) up to A/K Kalambakas.

So, the journey Athens – Karditsa now takes 2 hours and 35 minuteswhile the Athens – Trikala, less than 3 hours. In addition, important tourist destinations such as Meteora and Lake Plastira are now accessible, quickly, easily and safely.

The delivery ceremony of the parts of the E65, manufactured by TERNA, took place in the presence of the Prime Minister, Kyriakou Mitsotakisof the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Staikouras and the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Nikos Tahiaou.

They are under construction the last 46 km of the highway that 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.

With its completion, the E65 highway will reform road transport to Western Thessaly and Western Macedonia, giving a boost to trade, tourism and agricultural production. With the E65, its port will be connected Igoumenitsa – which acts as Greece’s gateway to Central Europe – with its port Volosinternational 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.

Alongside, will be reduced by about 2 hours the total journey from its port Piraeus towards the west Balkanswhile with the E65 the journey from Lamia up to Egnatia Odos, will last only 1 hour and 45 minutesthe distance Athens-Grevena and Athens-Metsovo will be reduced to just 4 hours and the transition to Kastoria and to Kozani will be held within 4.5 hours.

It is reminded that the E65 highway is 182.1 km long and is one of the most important national projects, with a total budget of approx 1.397 billion euros. It has the necessary capacity of a modern highway 2 traffic lanes in each directionplus Emergency Lane and is being built entirely in a new alignment connecting Eastern and Western Greece.

The 136 km that are now in traffic will be provided, as always, with the road safety services of the Central Road 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 Tuesday, April 23 to Wednesday, April 24, the operation of the new Lianokladi frontal station and the lateral Trikala and Kalambaka stations will begin.

The prices of tolls for the new stations as well as the Trikala frontage:

Toll Station	Category 1	Category 2	Category 3	Category 4
Metopikos Lianokladiou	€1.30	€1.85	€4.70	€6.60
Frontline of Trikala	€2.05	€2.95	€7.45	€10.45
Side of Trikala	€0.55	€0.80	€2.05	€2.90
Side Kalambakas	€0.60	€0.90	€2.25	€3.15

Category 1: Two-wheelers, three-wheelers, Category 2: Vehicles with or without a trailer and a height of up to 2.20 m, Category 3: Vehicles with 2-3 axles with or without trailer and height over 2.20 m, Category 4: Vehicles with 4 or more axles with or without a trailer and a height of 2.20 m or more.

During the handover ceremony, the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakisemphasized: “Today is indeed a great day for Central Greece, for Thessaly, for Western Macedonia, for Epirus, as we are now delivering the largest section of a very important road to traffic. And I know very well, especially about her 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 Karditsathree 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, Christos Staikouraspointed out among other things: “With today’s delivery to the market of two important parts of the project, we complete the road axis Lamia – Karditsa – Trikala – Kalambakawith a total length of 135 km. Access abroad is facilitated, as o modern highway it is connected, through Egnatia Odos and its vertical axes, to the outside. We assure that we will continue in the same directionwith speed, responsibility and method, so that, with a sense of responsibility, we contribute to the all-round strengthening of our homeland”.

The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Nikos Tahiaosstated: “E65 will be a ‘development fuse’ for the areas recently tested by theomenites. In this year’s holidays, Easter travelers heading to Fthiotida and Western Thessaly (in the mountains of Karditsa of Trikala on Lake Plastira) will be able to drive on these new sections of the highway with greater comfort and safety».