A3 motorway shield
A3 motorway
Αυτοκινητόδρομος 3
Central Greece Motorway
Αυτοκινητόδρομος Κεντρικής Ελλάδας
A3 in Anavra.jpg
A3 Motorway near Anavra
Route information
Part of E65
Length174 km (108 mi)
Major junctions
North endA2 near Grevena
South endA1 near Lamia
Location
CountryGreece
RegionsWest Macedonia, Thessaly, Central Greece
Major citiesGrevena, Kalambaka, Trikala, Karditsa, Lamia
Highway system
  • Highways 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 Kentriki Odos SA, 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 32 km long southern section is currently underway and it is expected to be completed by 2022, while the 3 km long tunnel passing through the Othrys mountain has already been excavated in both sides, as of October 2021.[8] In July 16, 2021, the 15 km section from the A1 interchange outside Lamia to the Karpenisi interchange was opened to traffic, without the Lamia interchange and the Lianokladi rest area. Those will be delivered later, along with the other 17 km of the southern section.[9]

Exit list

Notes
      Under construction
Regional unit Exit Name Destinations Notes/Also as
Grevena 16 Egnatia Odos Interchange A2 to Thessaloniki, Grevena Under construction

(to be completed in 2024)

Trikala 15 Agiofyllo - Karpero GR-15 to Deskati and Grevena Under construction

(to be completed in 2024)

14 Oxyneia Under construction

(to be completed in 2024)

13 Grevena GR-15 to Kalabaka and Grevena Under construction

(to be completed in 2024)

12 Kalabaka Under construction

(to be completed in 2024)

11 Vasiliki GR-6 E92 to Kalabaka and Meteora Under construction

(to be completed in 2024)

10 Trikala GR-6 E92 to Trikala and Larissa

Roundabout (Exits from southbound and to northbound directions to be completed in 2024)
9 Loggos

Exit from northbound and to southbound directions
Karditsa 8 Proastio, Agnantero
7 Karditsa GR-30 to Larissa and Volos
6 Sofades
5 Anavra
4 Smokovo
Phthiotis
3 Domokos, Xyniada GR-3 E65
2 Lamia, Lianokladi GR-38 E952
1 Lamia, Komma GR-3 E65 to Lamia Under construction

(to be completed in 2021)

Lamia Interchange A1 E75 to Athens

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. 1 2 "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. ↑ "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.
  8. ↑ "Ε65: διανοίχθηκε η μεγάλη Σήραγγα Όθρυος – Σημαντικό ορόσημο για το Λαμία – Ξυνιάδα". 17 September 2021.
  9. ↑ "Παραδόθηκαν τα πρώτα 14 χλμ του Ε65-Καραμανλής: Διευκολύνουμε τη ζωή των πολιτών". 16 July 2021.
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