Greece has completed the construction of the E65 Central Greece Motorway, with the final section of the road opening to traffic on Thursday, marking the completion of one of the country’s major infrastructure projects.
The final 46-kilometer section, connecting Kalambaka with Grevena, brings the entire 182.1-kilometer motorway into full operation. The inauguration ceremony was held in the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the leadership of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
Built by TERNA, the E65 is part of the European TEN-T transport network and links the Athens–Thessaloniki–Evzoni motorway with the Egnatia Odos highway, creating a new strategic transport corridor across Greece.
Faster connections across Greece
The completion of the motorway is expected to significantly reduce travel times and improve access to regions in western Greece. The journey from Athens to Grevena can now be completed in around four hours, while connections to Western Macedonia and Epirus are expected to become faster and safer.
The motorway also provides improved access to important tourist destinations, including Meteora, Lake Plastira, Karpenisi and Trikala, while supporting regional development, trade and agricultural activity.
The project was built on a completely new route and features two traffic lanes in each direction, along with an emergency lane, meeting modern motorway safety standards.
Major infrastructure project
The E65 includes 14 interchanges and four half-interchanges, five twin tunnels, 31 bridges and 114 overpasses and underpasses.
Among its key structures is the 3-kilometer-long T2 tunnel through the Othrys mountain range and the 595-metre Pinios River bridge.
The motorway also includes traffic management facilities, maintenance centers, emergency services, rest areas and toll stations designed to support drivers and improve road safety.
Boost for transport and regional growth
The new motorway reshapes road connections between central Greece, Western Macedonia and the wider European transport network. It creates a direct link between the port of Igoumenitsa, a gateway to Central Europe, and the port of Volos, helping facilitate passenger and freight transport.
The E65 also provides an alternative route for international transport flows, reducing travel times from Greece towards Western and Central Europe. According to the project’s developers, the motorway can shorten the journey from the port of Piraeus to the western Balkans by around two hours.
