A3 motorway (Greece)

The A3 motorway, also known as the Central Greece motorway (Greek: Αυτοκινητόδρομος Κεντρικής Ελλάδας) or the E65 motorway,^[1][2] is a partially completed controlled-access highway in Greece. It will link the A1 near Lamia with the A2 near Grevena, passing Karditsa, Trikala and Kalambaka. It will carry the European route E65.

A3 motorway
Αυτοκινητόδρομος 3
Central Greece Motorway Αυτοκινητόδρομος Κεντρικής Ελλάδας
A3 Motorway near Anavra
Route information
Part of E65
Length	174 km (108 mi)
Major junctions
North end	A2 near Grevena
South end	A1 near Lamia
Location
Country	Greece
Regions	West Macedonia, Thessaly, Central Greece
Major cities	Grevena, Kalambaka, Trikala, Karditsa, Lamia
Highway system
Highways in Greece Motorways National Roads

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.^[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]

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.^[7]

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.^[8][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.^[9] 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.^[10] 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.^[11]

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 2025)
Trikala	15	Agiofyllo - Karpero	GR-15 to Deskati and Grevena	Under construction (to be completed in 2025)
	14	Oxyneia		Under construction (to be completed in 2025)
	13	Grevena	GR-15 to Kalabaka and Grevena	Under construction (to be completed in 2025)
	12	Kalabaka		Roundabout (Exits from northbound directions to be completed in 2025)
	11	Vasiliki	GR-6 E92 to Kalabaka and Meteora
10	Trikala	GR-6 E92 to Trikala and Larissa
9	Loggos
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
0	Lamia Interchange	A1 E75 to Athens	Southest terminus of the motorway

References

1. 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.
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.
3. Kentriki Odos Archived March 5, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, project description
4. Kentriki Odos Archived March 5, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, company description
5. "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.
6. "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.
7. "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.
8. "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.
9. "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.
10. "Ε65: διανοίχθηκε η μεγάλη Σήραγγα Όθρυος – Σημαντικό ορόσημο για το Λαμία – Ξυνιάδα". 17 September 2021.
11. "Παραδόθηκαν τα πρώτα 14 χλμ του Ε65-Καραμανλής: Διευκολύνουμε τη ζωή των πολιτών". 16 July 2021.