E65 Motorway: Greece’s New Development Corridor as Mitsotakis Delivers a Strategic Infrastructure Project

With the completion of the Central Greece Motorway (E65), the Mitsotakis government highlights a major infrastructure achievement expected to transform transport links, strengthen regional growth, and boost trade, tourism, and investment opportunities.

Greece is entering a new era in infrastructure development with the completion of the Central Greece Motorway E65, one of the country’s most significant road projects of recent decades.

In the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the political leadership of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the final section of the motorway is being delivered to traffic, completing a strategic route that connects Eastern and Western Greece while strengthening the country’s position within Europe’s transport network.

A Project That Redefines Connectivity

With the opening of the final 46-kilometre section from Kalambaka to Grevena, the E65 motorway reaches full operation, covering a total length of 182.1 kilometres.

The motorway now links the Athens–Thessaloniki–Evzones (A.TH.E.) corridor with the Egnatia Odos motorway, creating a modern north-south and east-west transport connection.

The completion of the project significantly reduces travel times:

• Athens–Grevena can now be completed in approximately four hours.
• Access to Western Macedonia and Epirus becomes faster and safer.
• Freight transportation and regional connectivity are substantially improved.

The E65 forms part of the European TEN-T transport network, making it a project of both national and European strategic importance.

Mitsotakis Government’s Infrastructure Strategy

The completion of the E65 is presented by the Greek government as a major milestone in its broader strategy to modernize national infrastructure.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to highlight the motorway as an example of policies focused on large-scale investments, regional development, and strengthening Greece’s competitiveness.

The project creates a new economic corridor connecting production areas, tourism destinations, and commercial hubs across the country.

A Major Engineering Achievement

The motorway was constructed by TERNA and includes advanced infrastructure built to modern European standards.

Key technical features include:

• 14 interchanges and 4 partial interchanges
• 5 twin tunnels, including the 3-kilometre T2 tunnel through the Othrys mountain range
• 31 bridges, including the 595-metre Pinios River bridge
• 114 overpasses and underpasses
• Advanced traffic control and tunnel management facilities

The E65 provides two traffic lanes in each direction plus an emergency lane, meeting the requirements of a modern European motorway.

Boosting Tourism, Trade and Regional Growth

The new transport corridor is expected to create significant opportunities for regions including Meteora, Trikala, Lake Plastira, and Karpenisi, providing faster and safer access for visitors.

At the same time, the motorway strengthens agricultural production, improves logistics networks, and creates new investment opportunities in Western Thessaly and Western Macedonia.

The E65 also connects the port of Igoumenitsa with the port of Volos, creating an alternative trade route toward Central Europe and the Western Balkans.

Safety and Next-Generation Services

The motorway includes a wide range of modern road safety and driver assistance services, including:

• 24-hour road safety patrols
• Free roadside assistance in case of vehicle breakdowns
• Traffic management systems
• Motorist service stations

These services aim to provide safer and more efficient travel conditions for drivers.

A Nationally Significant Infrastructure Milestone

The completion of the E65 represents a major achievement for Greece’s transport network and economic development.

The government describes the project as evidence of its commitment to infrastructure investment and to creating a more connected, competitive, and investment-friendly Greece.

The new motorway is more than a transportation route; it is a strategic development corridor designed to reshape regional connectivity and strengthen Greece’s role in Southeast Europe.

Πηγή: pagenews.gr