A3 motorway (Greece)
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| Αυτοκινητόδρομος Α3 | ||||
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 A3 Motorway near Anavra | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Part of E65 (planned) and E92 (Trikala–Kipoureio) | ||||
| Length | 174 km (108 mi) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end | Lamia (A1) | |||
| North end | Kipoureio (A2) | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | Greece | |||
| Regions | ||||
| Primary destinations | ||||
| Highway system | ||||
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The A3 motorway, also known as the Central Greece motorway (Greek: Αυτοκινητόδρομος Κεντρικής Ελλάδας) or the E65 motorway,[1][2] is a controlled-access highway in Greece. It links the A1 near Lamia with the A2 near Grevena, passing Karditsa, Trikala and Kalambaka. It is part of the European route E65.
Starting from the plain of Phthiotis near Lamia, it crosses the Othrys mountains, the plains of western Thessaly and the mountains Antichasia, Chasia and Pindos. Its total length is 174 km.[3] The concession company is Kentriki Odos SA, which is a joint venture of ACS Group, Ferrovial and GEK Terna.[4] 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.[5] In October 2018 the European Commission approved the funding for the construction of the southern section, Xyniada - Lamia,[6] this section was opened to traffic in 2024. The last remaining section from Kalambaka to Grevena opened on 23 July 2026.[7]
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 Greek government-debt 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.[8]
The middle section between Xyniada and Trikala was inaugurated and opened to traffic on December 22, 2017.[5]
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.[9][6] 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.[10] 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.[11] On 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.[12]
E-road designation
Although the A3 motorway is widely promoted as being part of European route E65,[1][2] officially realigning the E65 to follow the A3 requires amending Annex I of the European Agreement on Main International Traffic Arteries (AGR), as the A3 does not serve Larissa and Domokos (as currently defined by the AGR).[13]
Exit list
| Regional unit | Exit | Name | Destinations | Notes/Also as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grevena | 16 | Kipoureio Interchange |  A2  to Thessaloniki, Grevena |
 Northwest terminus of the motorway |
| Trikala | 15 | Agiofyllo - Karpero |  EO15 to Deskati and Grevena |
|
| 14 | Oxyneia | | ||
| 13 | Grevena | EO15 to Kalabaka and Grevena |
| |
| 12 | Kalabaka | | ||
| 11 | Vasiliki |  EO6  E92 to Kalabaka and Meteora |
| |
| 10 | Trikala | EO6 E92 to Trikala and Larissa |
| |
| 9 | Loggos | | ||
| Karditsa | ||||
| 8 | Proastio, Agnantero | | ||
| 7 | Karditsa |  EO30 to Larissa and Volos |
| |
| 6 | Sofades | | ||
| 5 | Anavra | | ||
| 4 | Smokovo | | ||
| Phthiotis | ||||
| 3 | Domokos, Xyniada |  EO3  E65 |
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| 2 | Lamia, Lianokladi |  EO38  E952 |
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| 1 | Lamia, Komma | EO3 E65 to Lamia |
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| 0 | Lamia Interchange |  A1  E75 to Athens |
Southeast terminus of the motorway |
References
- 1 2 Lialios, Giorgos (12 January 2016). "Αλλαξε η λίστα των αυτοκινητόδρομων" [The list of motorways has changed]. Kathimerini (in Greek). Athens: Kathimerini Publishing. Archived from the original on 9 December 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- 1 2 "Central Greece Highway E-65". European Commission. Brussels: Directorate-General for Communication. Archived from the original on 30 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ↑ Kentriki Odos Archived March 5, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, project description
- ↑ Kentriki Odos Archived March 5, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, company description
- 1 2 Karagiannis, Nikos (20 December 2017). "Παραδίδεται την Παρασκευή 22 Δεκεμβρίου το Ξυνιάδα-Τρίκαλα του Ε65". Ypodomes.com (in Greek). Athens: Infra Media. Archived from the original on 29 December 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
- 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.
- ↑ Lialios, Giorgos (23 July 2026). "Greece opens final section of E65 motorway after 18-year construction delay". Kathimerini. Athens: Kathimerini Publishing. Archived from the original on 24 July 2026. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Ε65: διανοίχθηκε η μεγάλη Σήραγγα Όθρυος – Σημαντικό ορόσημο για το Λαμία – Ξυνιάδα". 17 September 2021.
- ↑ "Παραδόθηκαν τα πρώτα 14 χλμ του Ε65-Καραμανλής: Διευκολύνουμε τη ζωή των πολιτών". 16 July 2021.
- ↑ "European Agreement on Main International Traffic Arteries" (PDF). United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Geneva: United Nations. 1 November 2016. p. 12. ECE/TRANS/SC.1/2016/3/Rev.1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2024.