Central Greece’s Motorway E65: southern section to be completed & fully operational by the end of 2023

At the end of the year, it is estimated by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport that the southern section of E65, Lamia-Xyniada, will be completed and operational. In a meeting to inform journalists at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Giorgos Karagiannis stated that the progress of the works in the southern part has exceeded 90%.

According to what he said, the ministry’s planning is for the entire southern section to be operational by the end of 2023. This, as he noted, the arbitration for the “problematic” section of 4km before the Othrios tunnel has been completed and the works have already started in the new section which bypasses the railway tunnel located in the area.

This is the point at which it is located before the Othrios tunnel (at 21.8 km of the axis) and which is the link between the plain and the mountainous part of the southern part of the E65. In this section, the works had been stopped since 2021, delaying its completion as it was deemed unsafe to pass the highway from this point, making the design change imperative.

Now, according to information, the progress made in the southern part by the end of March at 90%, bridges and other technical is 93% and that other than asphalt pavements is 70%. The process of marking the department has started.

Let’s remember that out of the total 32.5 kilometers of the southern section, the southern end from Lamia to the Uneven Karpenisi Junction, 14.5 kilometers long, has been handed over to traffic. At the same time, the opening of the Othrios Tunnel, approximately 3 kilometers long, has been completed with progress at 99.5%.

The financing of the projects in the southern part is covered by the NSRF 2014-2020.

Trikala-Kalambaka will be given to traffic at the end of 2023

In the northern part the progress is 22.55% while the section from Km position 111 to km. position 150 is very advanced and is at 40%. More than 640 people now work at the four construction sites in the northern section. As Mr. Karagiannis mentioned, for the 25 km long Trikala-Kalambaka section, the goal is to be delivered at the end of the year.

If this becomes possible, then at the beginning of 2024 the E65 will operate from Lamia (Anthili region) to Kalambaka with a length of 135 km. Practically, the distance between Athens and Trikala can be covered in about 3 hours. Let us remember that the works in both the southern and northern parts are carried out by TERNA on behalf of Kendriki Odos S.A. both members of the GEK TERNA Group.

The northern section is 70.5 km long, work started in 2021 and is estimated to last 36 months, i.e. until the end of 2024. The works in the northern section have a budget of 442 million euros and are covered by the Recovery Fund.

E65 is estimated to contribute decisively to the development of the Greek region and especially the regions of Thessaly as well as Western Macedonia. Also, with the connection of the E65 with the Egnatia Motorway, Western Macedonia and Epirus gain new access to Central and Southern Greece. At the same time, the goal of the direct road connection of the ports of Igoumenitsa and Volos is achieved, which can lead to a development course for the two regions as a whole.