Transforming Athens: Upcoming Road Projects Poised to Alleviate Metropolitan Traffic Woes

Athens has ranked among the top ten regions with the most congested traffic in terms of travel time requirements, according to a study by the Association of Greek Transport Engineers. During yesterday’s seminar held in the auditorium of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the findings were revealing.

The average time it takes to travel 10 kilometers in the city center is nearly 30 minutes (29 minutes and 39 seconds). Worse performance at the European level is shown by London (33:17 minutes), Dublin (32:45), Barcelona (31:13), Bucharest (31:09), Bordeaux (31:08), Brussels (30:22), and Rome (29:59). The data was collected by TomTom.

Overall, an Athens resident spends 34% of their day in traffic during congested conditions, which ranks the capital 114th in the world. This results in a loss of 100 hours annually. However, at the metropolitan level, Athens performs better, with an average travel time of approximately 21 minutes.

What is striking, however, is that cities with very strong transport systems, such as London and Barcelona, show worse performance than Athens, though this is by no means an excuse. One of the main reasons, as presented in the study by the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), is the limited capacity of the network. Additionally, factors such as the high number of car trips and the often aggressive behavior of Greek drivers have been negatively evaluated.

The proposed road projects include: the Ilioupoli tunnel, the new Elefsina-Oinofyta axis, the triple junction at Skaramaga, the extension towards Rafina, the extension of Kymi Avenue, the Argiroupoli tunnel, the improvement of Kifisos Avenue, the connection between Iridanou Avenue and Olof Palme Avenue, the axis from Elliniko to Marathon in the Kryoneri section, and the extension towards Lavrio.

As mentioned by Professor Konstantinos Kepaptsoglou from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), who presented the research, in Athens, there are 450 cars per 1,000 people, while in Germany, there are 650 cars per 1,000 people.

Typical routes were recorded and coded—not along the entire length of the axes, but in segments—of great interest to drivers. For example, towards the Skaramaga exit from Kifisos to the refineries, two sections on Kifisos Avenue from Athens Avenue to Metamorfosi, and Kalyftaki – Three Bridges, Kifisias Avenue from the Ring Road to Alexandras Avenue, and routes to and from the city center, such as from the Athens Tower to Omonia, with two alternatives from Alexandras Avenue and from Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, among others.

Under free-flow conditions, travel times are low. For example, it takes about 6-7 minutes to travel from Metamorfosi to Athens Avenue. These are generally routes that take between 6 and 11 minutes at most in free flow.

A key finding of the research is that, based on data from 2022 to 2024, during peak hours, the overall situation has not changed. In fact, there is a different trend for each axis, which shows the movement patterns in the city. For instance, Alexandras Avenue has seen a slight decrease in traffic, but Kifisos Avenue, Kifisias Avenue, and other axes have experienced significant congestion.

According to transport engineers, these trends should be taken into account, for example, in the Strategic Plan of OASA (Athens Urban Transport Organization), which is currently being developed. This is in order to identify the city’s transportation needs and the trends as they are recorded in real time.

What do transport engineers propose for transportation systems?

However, the perspective of the SES (National Strategic Transport Committee) committees on the country’s transportation systems was also interesting, as it highlights their weaknesses while providing suggestions for improvement.

For example, regarding road transportation, SES emphasizes the need to revise the approved specifications and requirements in road transport studies. There has been stagnation in the reduction of accidents since 2017, and a Strategic Plan for new road infrastructure is required, particularly at the local level. A key pillar is the maintenance of existing infrastructure. For new road infrastructure, they propose the extension of Attiki Odos, the new Elefsina-Oinofyta axis, and the grade separation of road axes, among others.

Regarding urban mobility, SES mentions that 50% of accidents occur in urban areas. In terms of what is needed, as stated, there should be a clear definition of speed limits through new studies and the necessary equipment should be installed. The measure to set the speed limit at 30 km/h in urban areas, especially on low-traffic streets, was deemed correct. SES also highlighted the need for accompanying measures, such as cameras, law enforcement, and proper signage.

Additionally, it was mentioned that the road infrastructure registry, which started with the Egnatia road in 2025, needs to be updated and extended at the national level. It is also recommended to meticulously record accidents and maintain a database to analyze network weaknesses.

In urban mobility, SES identifies an excessive presence of the state, multiplicity of authorities, and bureaucratic processes, while the design of urban and suburban mobility is also lacking. The main goal is Sustainable Urban Mobility.

Regarding air transportation, SES provided some interesting data. As mentioned, in 2023, there were 4.4 billion passengers worldwide, with a contribution of 1 trillion euros to GDP, and 58% of tourism is air travel.

In Greece, there are 39 airports, and 73% of tourists travel by air. Air traffic in 2023 surpassed the levels seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2024, a 10% increase is expected compared to 2019.

According to SES, what is needed to strengthen air transportation is compliance with international and national requirements, the upgrade of infrastructure and systems at airports, as well as further staffing due to the increase in transportation operations.

For rail transport, the goal in Europe is to double passenger services by 2030 and triple them by 2050.

In Greece, according to SES, significant modernization projects have been carried out on the main rail axis in recent years, and important projects are expected to be delivered in the coming years. Despite these efforts, the network is still recovering following the tragic events at Tempi and the damage caused by Storm Daniel. As stated, there is a need to improve safety through the use of ETCS (European Train Control System) and GSM-R (Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway). Additionally, new rolling stock, intelligent systems, and improvements to existing infrastructure are necessary.

For the country, there is a need to strengthen the Traffic Regulations, accelerate projects, record all at-grade crossings, and ensure continuous maintenance. Regarding the latter, it was mentioned that network usage optimization, continuous staff training, and a reassessment of fees are necessary.

Regarding the upgrading of services, it was emphasized that there is a need to develop multimodal mobility hubs, improve accessibility for people with disabilities (PWD), and foster entrepreneurship. It was also stated that the central stations in Athens and Thessaloniki should be turned into major hubs.

Regarding maritime transport, it was mentioned that the network is relatively limited, the fleet is aging, and there is significant seasonality, primarily due to tourist traffic.

Nine strategic development axes are proposed here: the strategic importance of maritime transport, alignment with the Green Deal, enhancing safety and social cohesion, promoting digitization, resilience, and more.

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