Central Greece Motorway

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A3 motorway shield
A3 motorway
Αυτοκινητόδρομος 3
Central Greece Motorway
Αυτοκινητόδρομος Κεντρικής Ελλάδας
A3 Motorway near Anavra
Route information
Part of E65
Length174 km (108 mi)
Major junctions
North endA2 near Grevena
South endA1 near Lamia
Location
RegionsWest Macedonia, Thessaly, Central Greece
Major citiesGrevena, Kalambaka, Trikala, Karditsa, Lamia
Highway system
Motorways in Greece

Motorway 3 (A3), or the Central Greece motorway is a partially completed motorway in Greece. It will lead from the Motorway 1 near Lamia to the Motorway 2 near Grevena, passing Karditsa, Trikala and Kalambaka. It will carry the European route E65.

Upon completion, starting from the plain of Phthiotis near Lamia, it will cross the Othrys mountains, the plains of western Thessaly and the mountains Antichasia, Chasia and Pindos. Its total length will be 174 km.[1] The concession company is , which is a joint venture of ACS Group, Ferrovial and GEK Terna.[2] Tendering began in May 2005 and ended on 31 May 2007 with the signing of the contract. The commencement of the 30 years concession period started in March 2008.

The middle section between Xyniada and Trikala was inaugurated and opened to traffic on December 22, 2017.[3] In October 2018 the European Commission approved the funding for the construction of the southern section, Xyniada - Lamia.[4]

History[]

The concession agreement for the construction of the project was signed in 2008 and the construction, which began in 2009, lasted 2 years and stopped in 2011 due to the financial crisis. At the end of 2013 the concession agreement was amended and it was decided to proceed to the immediate construction of the central middle section, Trikala - Xyniada, with a length of 80 km and costing 547.000.000 euros, while construction of the northern (Grevena-Trikala) and southern (Xyniada-Lamia) section was postponed.[5]

The middle section between Xyniada and Trikala was inaugurated and opened to traffic on December 22, 2017.

In October 2018, the European Commission approved Greek public funding of €306 million for the construction of the 32,5 km long southern section of Xyniada - Lamia, linking motorways A3 and A1.[6][4] Subsequently, the concession was sent to the Greek Court of Audit, where it was unanimously approved in early December 2018, and then, on December 20, it was ratified by the Greek Parliament.[7] The construction phase of the southern section is currently underway and it is expected to be completed over a period of 3 years or less, as the 3 km long tunnel passing through the Othrys mountain has already been constructed by about 33% (500 meters from each direction), as of December 2018.[7]

Exit list[]

Notes
      Under construction
      Planned
hideRegional unit Exit Name Destinations Notes/Also as
Trikala
Planned extension towards Egnatia Odos
Trikala 9 GR-EO-6.svg GR-6 European Road 92 number DE.svg E92 to Trikala and Larissa Roundabout
Karditsa
8 Proastio,
Traffic Sign GR - KOK 2009 OMOE-KSA 2003 - PI-27 - squared - VCT.svg
7 Karditsa GR-EO-30.svg GR-30 to Larissa and Volos
Traffic Sign GR - KOK 2009 OMOE-KSA 2003 - PI-27 - squared - VCT.svg
6 Sofades
Traffic Sign GR - KOK 2009 OMOE-KSA 2003 - PI-27 - squared - VCT.svg
5 Anavra
Traffic Sign GR - KOK 2009 OMOE-KSA 2003 - PI-27 - squared - VCT.svg
4
Traffic Sign GR - KOK 2009 OMOE-KSA 2003 - PI-27 - squared - VCT.svg
Phthiotis
3 Domokos, Xyniada GR-EO-3.svg GR-3 European Road 65 number DE.svg E65
Traffic Sign GR - KOK 2009 OMOE-KSA 2003 - PI-27 - squared - VCT.svg
2 Lamia, GR-EO-38.svg GR-38 European Road 952 number DE.svg E952
Under construction

(to be completed in 2021)

1 Lamia, GR-EO-3.svg GR-3 European Road 65 number DE.svg E65 to Lamia
Under construction

(to be completed in 2021)

Lamia Interchange Autokinetodromos A1 number.svg A1 European Road 75 number DE.svg E75 to Athens
Under construction

(to be completed in 2021)

References[]

  1. ^ Kentriki Odos Archived March 5, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, project description
  2. ^ Kentriki Odos Archived March 5, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, company description
  3. ^ "Παραδίδεται την Παρασκευή 22 Δεκεμβρίου το Ξυνιάδα-Τρίκαλα του Ε65 - ypodomes.com". www.ypodomes.com (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2018-12-29. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Επίσημο: Η Κομισιόν ενέκρινε 306εκατ.ευρώ για το νότιο τμήμα του Ε65, Λαμία-Ξυνιάδα - ypodomes.com". www.ypodomes.com (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2018-12-29. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
  5. ^ "Η Δυτική Θεσσαλία αποκτά τον δικό της αυτοκινητόδρομο, στην κυκλοφορία το Ξυνιάδα-Τρίκαλα του Ε65 - ypodomes.com". www.ypodomes.com (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2018-12-29. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
  6. ^ "European Commission - PRESS RELEASES - Press release - State aid: Commission approves €306 million in Greek public funding for the construction of southern section of E65 motorway". europa.eu. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "Αυτοκινητόδρομος Ε65: Κυρώθηκε από τη Βουλή το Λαμία-Ξυνιάδα, το έργο ξεκινά - ypodomes.com". www.ypodomes.com (in Greek). Archived from the original on 2018-12-29. Retrieved 2018-12-29.
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