One of Greece’s largest road infrastructure projects reached a major milestone this week as the E65 motorway officially opened in its entirety, creating a continuous north-south highway linking Central Greece with the country’s principal motorway network.
The final 46-kilometer Kalambaka–Grevena section opened to traffic on Thursday, July 23, completing the 182.1-kilometer motorway. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and officials from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport are expected to attend the inauguration.
The opening establishes a direct connection between the Athens–Thessaloniki–Evzoni (A1) motorway and Egnatia Odos, creating a strategic transport corridor that is expected to improve mobility, trade, and tourism across mainland Greece.
A Faster Route to Some of Greece’s Most Remarkable Destinations
For travelers, the completed motorway means shorter and more predictable journeys into regions that have long been less accessible by road.
Driving from Athens to Grevena is now expected to take about four hours, while access to Western Macedonia, Epirus, and Western Thessaly becomes considerably easier.
The new route will also boost tourism to several of mainland Greece’s best-known attractions, including the monasteries of Meteora, the lakeside landscapes of Lake Plastira, the mountain town of Karpenisi, and the historic city of Trikala.
Improved road connections could encourage more domestic road trips while making these destinations more attractive to international visitors arriving through Athens.
Strengthening Greece’s Transport Network
The E65 also plays a strategic role beyond tourism.
As part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), the motorway strengthens links between southern and northern Greece while improving freight connections between the ports of Igoumenitsa on the Ionian coast and Volos in the east.
The new corridor is expected to reduce transport times between the Port of Piraeus and the western Balkans by approximately two hours, improving logistics and regional trade.
Built for Safety and Efficiency
Constructed on an entirely new alignment, the motorway includes two lanes and an emergency lane in each direction, 14 interchanges, five twin tunnels—including the three-kilometer Othrys Tunnel—31 bridges, and more than 100 overpasses and underpasses.
The route is supported by modern traffic management systems, emergency roadside assistance, patrol vehicles, and 24-hour driver support services designed to improve safety and reliability.
The completion of the E65 represents one of the most significant upgrades to Greece’s road network in recent years, promising lasting benefits for regional development, tourism, and national connectivity.
Based on reporting by Greek Travel Pages (GTP).
