- Ionia Odos
-
A5 motorway
Ionia odos
Ιόνια Οδός
E55Route information Length: 196 km (122 mi) Major junctions From: Antirrio To: Ioannina Location Regions: Epirus, Western Greece Major cities: Antirrio, Missolonghi, Agrinio, Amfilochia, Menidi, Aetolia-Acarnania, Arta, Ioannina Highway system Motorways in Greece
The Ionia Odos (Greek: Ιόνια Οδός), sometimes called Ionian Highway in English, is a motorway, currently under construction, running through the western part of Greece. The total length will be 196 km from Rio to Ioannina. It is part of the E55 on its full length, along with the non-motorway part of Kakavia - Ioannina. The full length of the motorway will be completed by the end of 2013.[1][2]
Contents
Construction
Construction began in 2001 on an interchange outside Missolongi near Aitoliko along Greek National Road 5 with a paved section built up to near Angelokastro. Construction stopped shortly after, with rumors of funding problems with the builders.
In late 2006, Greece signed a €1.4 billion deal with a Greek-Spanish consortium consisting of construction firms GEK Group of Companies SA, Terna SA, Cintra SA (Cintra), and Actividades de Construcción y Servicios (Grupo ACS). The consortium, now operating under the name "Nea Odos", will build and operate the road, receiving toll fees for 30 years, while investing a combined €1.15 billion in the project. The rest of the funds will be provided by the European Union and the Greek government. Nea Odos is also responsible for the maintenance and upgrading of the PATHE motorway (A1) section from Metamorphosi I/C in Athens to Skarfeia I/C near Lamia, where it will also collect the toll fees. Construction, undertaken by the Euroionia Joint Venture (Terna SA, Dragados SA and Ferrovial SA) finally started in 2008 with a completion date of 72 months.[3] The bill was later ratified on March 28, 2007.[4]
Construction began with repairs and completion of the existing section (Agrinio bypass), with construction toward Rigani and Kouvara. Construction has also started in a number of new sections: the Antirio to Kefalovryso section (where the tunnels of Makyneia and Kalydona are already under construction) and parts of the motorway bypassing Amfilohia. The final completion date will be around 2012. The previously completed section of the motorway was opened to traffic in 2009, running up until the current construction. The project has been marred by lack of vacant possession of land, necessary for construction, which leads to undue delays.
Interchanges
Below are the planned interchanges with their current status[5]:
Interchange Name Access to other places and attractions Status Rio GR-8A with Patras By-Pass GR-8A Rio - - Rio-Antirio bridge Complete Antirio Toll Station Complete Antirrio Interchange GR-48 with Nafpaktos, Itea, Amfissa, Delphi, Livadeia Planned Riza Interchange - Under Construction Klokova Tunnel Under Construction Klokova Interchange - Under Construction Evinos River (Bridge) Under Construction Evinochori Interchange - Under Construction Missolongi Interchange - Under Construction Aitoliko Interchange Aitoliko, Astakos Partially open to traffic Chalkio Interchange GR-5, Trichonida area, Stamna Partially open to traffic Angelokastro Interchange Angelokastro, GR-5, Agrinio Partially open to traffic Rigani Interchange GR-38/E952 - Agrinio, Karpenissi, Lamia Partially open to traffic Kouvara Interchange GR-5, Agrinio, Kouvara Partially open to traffic Amvrakia Interchange GR-5, Amvrakia, Future Interchange with A52 Planned Amfilochia Tunnel Planned Amfilochia Interchange GR-42, Amfilochia, Vonitsa, Preveza, Lefkada Planned Menidi Interchange - Planned South Arta or Arta South GR-30, Karditsa, Farsala, Volos Planned Arachthos Bridge Planned North Arta or Arta North - Arta GR-5 Planned Skamnia Tunnel Planned Filippiada/Preveza GR-21, Preveza, Nikopoli, Parga Planned Gorgomylos Interchange - Under Construction Avgo Interchange - Under Construction Ioannina South Interchange Egnatia Odos/E90/E92, Igoumenitsa, Parga and Kozani, Thessaloniki
accesses with the GR-17 with DodoniUnder Construction/A2 Ioannina North Interchange Ioannina, Eleousa, Ioannina Airport, GR-5 and GR-20, Ioannina Bypass, GR-6 with Perama,
Igoumenitsa and Metsovo (old road)Under Construction Kalpaki Interchange - Planned Ktismata Interchange - Planned Kakavia border crossing - Albania-Greece - See also
- List of Greek roads - including highways
References
- ^ Staff (July 5, 2010). "Western Greece will have motorway by 2013 end - FOCUS Information Agency". FOCUS News Agency. http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n224537. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
- ^ Staff (July 3, 2010). "Έως το τέλος του 2013 έτοιμη η Ιόνια Οδός, λέει ο Γ.Μαγκριώτης" (in Greek). Philenews.com. http://www.philenews.com/main/78,1,23,0,40539-.aspx. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
- ^ Greece signs €1.4 billion deal for west coat highway - Europe - International Herald Tribune
- ^ Bill on Ionian Highway ratified by Parliament
- ^ A5 Ιόνια Oδóς (Ionia Odos)
Highways in Greece Motorways A1 · A2 (Egnatia) · A3 · A4 · A5 (Ionia) · A6 (Attiki) · A7 (Moreas) · A8 (Olympia) · A9 (Olympia) · A90National roads GR-1 · GR-2 · GR-3 · GR-4 · GR-5 · GR-6 · GR-7 · GR-8 · GR-8A · GR-9 · GR-9A · GR-12 · GR-13 · GR-14 · GR-15 · GR-16 · GR-18 · GR-20 · GR-21 · GR-22 · GR-26 · GR-27 · GR-30 · GR-31 · GR-33 · GR-36 · GR-37 · GR-38 · GR-39 · GR-42 · GR-44 · GR-48 · GR-50 · GR-51 · GR-52 · GR-53 · GR-55 · GR-57 · GR-59 · GR-61 · GR-63 · GR-65 · GR-66 · GR-67 · GR-70 · GR-74 · GR-76 · GR-77 · GR-79 · GR-82 · GR-83 · GR-85 · GR-86 · GR-89 · GR-90 · GR-91 · GR-95 · GR-97 · GR-99Categories:- Roads in Greece
- Aetolia-Acarnania
- Epirus
- Proposed roads
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