The new Patra-Pyrgos motorway. Photo source: Olympia Odos
A long-awaited section of the Patras–Pyrgos Motorway officially opened to traffic on August 1, offering faster and safer travel for residents and visitors in Western Greece.
The newly completed 65-kilometer stretch from Pyrgos to Alissos, near Patras, is part of the broader 74.8-kilometer Patras–Pyrgos Motorway, a major infrastructure project designed to replace one of Greece’s most dangerous roads. The remaining 10 kilometers, from Alissos to Mintilogli, are expected to be delivered by the end of November.
The new route reduces travel time from Patras to Pyrgos to just 45 minutes, while the Athens–Pyrgos journey now takes approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes—offering a faster, safer alternative to the older road.
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Dimas. Photo source: Transport Ministry
During the opening ceremony held in Pyrgos on July 31, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Dimas described the project as “a modern, safe and comfortable motorway that significantly improves access to and from the region.” The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Konstantinos Kyranakis, Deputy Minister for Infrastructure Nikos Tachiaos, and General Secretary for Infrastructure Dimitris Anagnopoulos.
According to Dimas, with the completion of the project, Olympia Odos becomes the third largest motorway in Greece, with a total length of 277 kilometers, connecting the regions of Attica, the Peloponnese, and Western Greece—and by extension, the regions of Epirus and the Ionian Islands.
Motorway features and budget breakdown
The Patras–Pyrgos Motorway includes two-lane carriageways in each direction, 11 bridges, 41 underpasses, 28 overpasses, nine interchanges, and multiple service stations.
Initially budgeted at 295 million euros, the project’s final cost reached 385 million euros, co-financed by the EU’s National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), with 143 million euros in EU funding. Additional works were approved during the concession period following input from local authorities and communities.
Photo source: Transport Ministry
Deputy Minister for Infrastructure Nikos Tachiaos highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in completing the project. “This was completed because it was integrated into the Olympia Odos concession. It reflects not only efficiency and reliability, but also our responsibility to safeguard life,” he said.
Prioritizing safety
Road safety has been a central priority. The previous Patras–Pyrgos road was among the most dangerous in Greece, with a high number of fatalities. Targeted interventions and the construction of a modern motorway aim to reverse that trend. Post-delivery, Olympia Odos will focus on incorporating advanced technology, sustainability measures, and a comprehensive road safety services system.
“We’ve already seen a 93 percent drop in accidents across our network,” noted Panagiotis Papanikolas, President and CEO of Olympia Odos S.A, speaking on behalf of all the concession project stakeholders — VINCI Concessions, AVAX, AKTOR and TERNA.
Follow GTP Headlines on Google News to keep up to date with all the latest on tourism and travel in Greece.
Source link
